Telangana Amma, a newly crafted counter to Telangana Talli, is depicted holding a bunch of rice, maize, and millet crops in her left hand — a nod to Telangana’s agrarian roots — and her right palm raised in ‘abhaya hasta’ (gesture of assurance), a clear reference to the Congress party’s symbol. What could have been an artistic tribute to the state’s prosperity has instead become a strategic move to align the icon with the party’s ideology. Both the BRS and Congress are unabashedly using Telangana’s cultural icons as mere tools in their poll machinery, each trying to outdo the other in the politics of appropriation.
The politics of colours
The Bharatiya Rashtra Samiti, under K. Chandrasekhar Rao, initiated the trend by dressing Telangana Talli lije a deity in a pink saree, cementing her as the mother of the party rather than the state. The Congress, unwilling to let BRS monopolise the symbolism, took the rivalry a step further with Telangana Amma, draped in green to project the party’s ‘secular’ credentials while sending a subtle message to a specific community.
The choice of colours, however, raises troubling questions. Why green, when Telangana is a land of vibrant hues reflecting its rich history and culture? Why not a vibrant blue, a regal maroon, or even the neutral and earthy shades of the Telangana soil? A rainbow of options lay before him, yet he chose a colour that could easily alienate as much as it appeases. Why reduce a symbol of unity to the palette of political strategy?
A Tughlaqian gamble
Revanth Reddy’s decision to embrace green is eerily reminiscent of Mohammed Bin Tughlaq’s infamous decisions — bold, dramatic, and ultimately alienating. While the Congress leader may believe he is broadening the party’s appeal, his gamble risks further dividing Telangana’s electorate, just as KCR’s pink saree failed to unite beyond the BRS base. The result is a fractured identity for a state that fought hard for its sense of self.
The icons of Telangana deserve respect
Telangana Talli and Telangana Amma were envisioned to celebrate the state’s heritage, struggles, and triumphs. They were meant to embody maternal care, resilience, and inclusivity. Instead, they’ve been hijacked by political agendas. Both KCR and Revanth are guilty of twisting these symbols to serve narrow party interests, alienating the very people they aim to represent.
Real challenges
The real questions facing Telangana remain unaddressed: the plight of its farmers, the state of its economy, and the aspirations of its youth. These icons should inspire action, not serve as campaign props. Leaders must rise above the politics of pink and green and focus on real issues, lest the electorate renders them irrelevant in the next polls. Telangana’s people deserve better. Its icons deserve dignity. And its leaders need to remember that the state’s identity cannot and should not be draped in the colours of division.