HYDERABAD: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy made headlines on Monday as he extended a respectful greeting to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief K. Chandrashekar Rao during the first day of the winter session of the Telangana Assembly. Walking up to KCR’s seat with folded hands, Revanth demonstrated a gesture of courtesy, which quickly garnered attention amidst the backdrop of recent tensions between the Congress and BRS parties.

“I met KCR in a courteous manner in the Assembly. We respect every member and I have met KCR not just today but earlier also when he was in hospital,” Revanth told reporters, emphasizing the importance of respect within the political arena. The meeting comes on the heels of a strong verbal exchange between party leaders, intensifying scrutiny on each interaction in the assembly.

A brief video of the encounter went viral, showing KCR reciprocating the gesture by standing up. However, the reaction from other BRS members was mixed, with some, like working president K. T. Rama Rao and MLA P. Kaushik Reddy, choosing to remain seated. Congress members criticized this action, calling it "arrogance" and a lack of basic values. Party MLC Addanki Dayakar commended Revanth's approach, stating, “When CM Revanth Reddy greeted former CM K. Chandrashekar Rao, all members stood in respect. KTR remained seated, which reflects arrogance and lack of values.”

The incident highlighted ongoing tensions and varying perceptions of political etiquette. Telangana Fisheries Corporation Chairman Mettu Sai Kumar praised Revanth for his humility, contrasting his behavior with that of KTR and Kaushik Reddy, who did not reciprocate the graciousness shown by the Chief Minister. This exchange not only outlines personal relationships in politics but also raises questions about the portrayal of party members in a rapidly evolving political landscape, underlining the significance of being respectful despite the heated nature of contemporary political discourse.