CM Revanth Reddy unveils NTR statue at Ameerpet junction
Synopsis
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy unveiled a statue of NTR at Ameerpet's Maithrivanam junction on the actor-politician's birth anniversary, grouping him with Ambedkar and Indira Gandhi as 'jewels of the Indian nation' in a symbolically loaded tribute.
Key Takeaways
Revanth Reddy unveiled an NTR statue at Ameerpet-Maithrivanam junction, Hyderabad on 28 May 2026 .
The CM described Ambedkar, Indira Gandhi, and NTR collectively as 'jewels of the Indian nation.' NTR was born on 28 May 1923 and founded the Telugu Desam Party in 1982 .
The TDP was founded explicitly to challenge Congress dominance in Andhra Pradesh, making the tribute a politically significant gesture.
The statue's location in Ameerpet , a major commercial hub, ensures high public visibility.
The move is part of a broader Congress strategy in Telangana to engage with regional icons for cross-community electoral appeal.
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy unveiled a statue of Telugu icon Nandamuri Tara Rama Rao (NTR) at the Maithrivanam junction in Ameerpet, Hyderabad, on the occasion of NTR's birth anniversary on 28 May 2026. The Chief Minister paid tribute to NTR alongside B.R. Ambedkar and Indira Gandhi, describing all three as 'jewels of the Indian nation.'
Context
In his post, Revanth Reddy wrote in Telugu: 'అంబేద్కర్, ఇందిరా గాంధీ, నందమూరి తారక రామారావు, ఈ ముగ్గురు భారత జాతి రత్నాలు' — translated as, 'Ambedkar, Indira Gandhi, Nandamuri Tara Rama Rao — these three are jewels of the Indian nation.' He added that on the occasion of NTR's birth anniversary, he unveiled the statue of 'that great soul' at the Ameerpet-Maithrivanam junction.
NTR, born on 28 May 1923, was one of Telugu cinema's most celebrated actors before entering politics. He founded the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1982 and served multiple terms as Chief Minister of the then-undivided Andhra Pradesh.
Policy Backdrop
The grouping of Ambedkar, Indira Gandhi, and NTR in a single tribute is a deliberate ideological framing — linking constitutional social justice, national Congress leadership, and regional Telugu identity under one narrative. State governments across India routinely inaugurate statues of icons to signal political positioning and seek cross-community appeal.
The gesture carries particular weight in the Telugu states, where NTR founded the TDP explicitly to challenge Congress dominance in Andhra Pradesh. Since Telangana's formation in 2014, Congress governments have selectively engaged with NTR's legacy — a signal that the party seeks to broaden its base beyond traditional Congress voters.
Stakeholders and Impact
The unveiling is likely to draw attention from TDP supporters and cadres, who regard NTR as the party's founding patriarch. For Congress workers, the event reinforces the party's claim to a pluralist, inclusive legacy that transcends political rivalry.
The choice of Ameerpet — a densely populated commercial hub in Hyderabad — ensures maximum public visibility for the statue. Placing NTR alongside Ambedkar and Indira Gandhi on a public pedestal also sends a message to Dalit communities and women voters, two constituencies that Congress has been actively courting in Telangana.
What's Next
Responses from TDP leadership and allied parties in Andhra Pradesh are expected, given NTR's central place in TDP's political identity. Any formal reaction — whether appreciative or critical — could shape discourse around cross-party legacy politics in the Telugu region ahead of future electoral cycles.
The broader pattern of Congress leaders in Telangana reclaiming regional icons suggests a sustained strategy to consolidate multi-community support. How opposition parties respond to this statue unveiling may offer early signals of the political temperature in the state.
Point of View
Revanth Reddy is crafting a political narrative that attempts to absorb a rival party's founding icon into a Congress-friendly pantheon of national greatness. This is a calculated move to neutralise TDP's emotional ownership of NTR's legacy in the Telugu electorate, particularly as Congress seeks to consolidate its position in Telangana. The choice of a high-footfall urban junction signals that the message is aimed at urban middle-class and youth voters, not just party faithful. Whether TDP accepts or contests this framing will define the next chapter of legacy politics in the Telugu states.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Revanth Reddy unveil an NTR statue?
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy unveiled the statue on the occasion of NTR's birth anniversary, 28 May, describing NTR as one of three 'jewels of the Indian nation' alongside Ambedkar and Indira Gandhi.
Where is the NTR statue unveiled by Revanth Reddy located?
The statue was unveiled at the Maithrivanam junction in Ameerpet, a major commercial locality in Hyderabad, Telangana.
What is NTR's significance in Telugu politics?
N.T. Rama Rao was a celebrated Telugu film actor who founded the Telugu Desam Party in 1982 and served multiple terms as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, making him a towering figure in Telugu political identity.
Why is a Congress CM paying tribute to NTR, who opposed Congress?
NTR founded the TDP explicitly to challenge Congress dominance in Andhra Pradesh. Revanth Reddy's tribute reflects a broader Congress strategy in Telangana to engage with regional icons and seek cross-party electoral appeal.
Who did Revanth Reddy group NTR with in his tribute?
Revanth Reddy grouped NTR with B.R. Ambedkar and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, calling all three 'jewels of the Indian nation' in his post on X.
