Kishan Reddy pays floral tribute to Konda Lakshman Bapuji on birth anniversary
Synopsis
Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy paid a floral tribute to freedom fighter and Telangana statehood icon Konda Lakshman Bapuji at the BJP state office in Nampally, Hyderabad, on his birth anniversary, honouring his legacy in the statehood movement.
Key Takeaways
Kishan Reddy , Union Coal and Mines Minister and BJP Telangana state president, garlanded the portrait of Konda Lakshman Bapuji on his birth anniversary on 27 September 2026 .
The tribute was held at the BJP state headquarters in Nampally, Hyderabad .
Konda Lakshman Bapuji was a freedom fighter, social reformer, and prominent figure in the Telangana statehood movement.
Telangana was formally established as a separate state on 2 June 2014 , following prolonged agitation in which Bapuji was a recognised leader.
Kishan Reddy described Bapuji's sacrifices for Telangana as 'forever memorable,' reaffirming the BJP's association with statehood movement icons.
At the BJP state office in Nampally, Hyderabad, Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy garlanded the portrait of freedom fighter and Telangana statehood stalwart Konda Lakshman Bapuji on Sunday, 27 September 2026, marking his birth anniversary with a formal floral tribute.
Posting on X in Telugu, Minister Kishan Reddy described Bapuji as a 'pramukha swatantrya samarayodhuni, sangha samskarta, Telangana udyama diggajam' — 'a distinguished freedom fighter, social reformer, and towering figure of the Telangana movement' — and pledged that 'the sacrifices and services he rendered in the cause of achieving the state of Telangana will remain forever memorable.'
Who was Konda Lakshman Bapuji?
Konda Lakshman Bapuji wore several hats across decades of public life: a participant in India's independence struggle, a social reformer, and one of the most recognisable faces of the long agitation for a separate Telangana state. His legacy spans both the national freedom movement and the regional cause that eventually succeeded when Telangana was formally carved out on 2 June 2014, after years of sustained political pressure and popular mobilisation.
Leaders who championed Telangana's statehood — Bapuji among them — are remembered in the state as foundational figures, their portraits fixtures in public offices and party halls alike.
BJP's Nampally office and the ritual of regional remembrance
The venue — the BJP Telangana state headquarters at Nampally — was deliberate. Kishan Reddy, who holds the dual role of Union Minister and BJP Telangana state president, used the occasion to anchor the party's identity alongside a figure revered across the political spectrum in the state. The garlanding ceremony is part of a well-established BJP practice of holding commemorations at regional party offices for icons tied to the Telangana statehood movement, reinforcing local connect without direct relation to the minister's Union portfolio.
For a state that is barely a decade old and where the memory of the statehood struggle remains politically alive, tributes to movement leaders carry resonance beyond ceremony. Every anniversary is, in a quiet way, a reminder of who stood where — and who claims that legacy now.
Point of View
Kishan Reddy signals the party's sustained effort to claim cultural and historical alignment with the Telangana statehood movement — a cause that cutting across party lines remains emotionally potent for the electorate. As both Union Minister and state BJP president, Reddy occupies a dual axis: national governance and regional identity politics. Commemorations like this one, held at the party office rather than a neutral civic space, are calibrated acts of soft political outreach in a state where the ruling Telangana Congress and the TRS-turned-BRS already contest ownership of the statehood legacy. The BJP's consistent honouring of movement figures is part of a longer arc to deepen its roots in a state where it remains the principal opposition.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Konda Lakshman Bapuji?
Konda Lakshman Bapuji was a freedom fighter, social reformer, and a prominent leader in the Telangana statehood movement who played a significant role in the agitation that led to Telangana becoming a separate state on 2 June 2014.
Why did G. Kishan Reddy pay tribute to Konda Lakshman Bapuji?
G. Kishan Reddy paid tribute on Konda Lakshman Bapuji's birth anniversary, garlanding his portrait at the BJP Telangana state office in Nampally, Hyderabad, to honour his contributions to the freedom movement and the Telangana statehood cause.
Where was the tribute to Konda Lakshman Bapuji held?
The tribute was held at the BJP Telangana state headquarters located in Nampally, Hyderabad, on 27 September 2026.
When did Telangana become a separate state?
Telangana was formally established as India's 29th state on 2 June 2014, following a prolonged statehood movement in which leaders like Konda Lakshman Bapuji were prominent figures.
What role does G. Kishan Reddy hold in Telangana politics?
G. Kishan Reddy serves as the Union Minister of Coal and Mines at the Centre and is also the BJP's Telangana state president, making him the party's senior-most face in the state.
