As the Enforcement Directorate (ED) intensifies its pursuit of the Congress party’s top brass in the National Herald scam, the spotlight now glares uncomfortably on two powerful southern satraps—Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Their names have now surfaced in connection with fresh financial irregularities, with the ED reportedly uncovering prima facie evidence of donations amounting to Rs 3 crore that allegedly involve both leaders. These are not isolated incidents. They form part of a broader pattern: the Congress’s deep-rooted nexus of corruption, entitlement, and brazen defiance of constitutional accountability. Let’s be clear—the National Herald case is not some petty legal nuisance. It’s a full-blown Rs 42,000 crore financial scandal, with Sonia and Rahul Gandhi as prime accused. The ED’s probe isn’t a political vendetta—it’s the prosecution of what appears to be a criminal conspiracy to loot public resources under the guise of press freedom and party legacy. Now, that web appears to be tightening around Revanth Reddy and D.K. Shivakumar—two men who control the party’s financial lifelines in the South. With Rajasthan gone, Karnataka and Telangana remain Congress’s key cash cows. That makes their regional chieftains both valuable and vulnerable. Revanth continues to be shadowed by the infamous “cash-for-vote” scandal. A video of him offering a bribe to an MLA is not merely a lapse in ethics—it’s criminal misconduct. While the courts may have offered reprieve, legal immunity is no substitute for moral vindication. Shivakumar, for his part, faces a litany of money laundering investigations. These cases may be mired in procedural delays, but they remain very much alive in the ED’s files. Both leaders project political confidence. But scratch the surface, and you find the rot: a party that claims to uphold transparency and democracy, yet thrives on opacity, dynastic privilege, and backroom deals.
Worse still is the arrogance now on full display. Revanth Reddy, barely a few months into his chief ministerial tenure, has taken it upon himself to lash out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi—even accusing him of “failing” India during its ongoing border tensions with Pakistan. This, even as the nation rallies in support of the armed forces and the government’s resolute posture. Across India, citizens are waving the Tiranga with pride. Military operations are being conducted with precision, backed by India’s best satellite and drone capabilities. Intelligence networks are running at peak efficiency. Global support for India’s position is strong. Yet, Revanth dismisses all this. He credits only the forces, not the leadership. Is he ignorant of how governments function? The military acts under political command, not in a vacuum. Would his own Telangana police act without clearance from his office? If Indira Gandhi got credit for the 1971 victory, why deny Modi his due for bolstering India’s military might? Revanth’s rhetoric reeks of immaturity—or worse, of desperation to curry favour with the Gandhi family. But sycophancy is no substitute for statesmanship. He’s in his fifties, a relatively young leader in Indian politics. If he doesn’t temper his arrogance, he might meet the same political fate as his predecessor, K. Chandrashekar Rao—shown the door by voters weary of hubris. Compare this with D.K. Shivakumar, who, despite serious legal baggage, still carries himself with more restraint. There’s dignity in his demeanor, even if his past raises questions. That contrast only underlines how erratic and combative Revanth Reddy has become. The Congress party is in crisis, not because of some imagined fascism from Delhi, but because of its deep rot. It is led by the accused, defended bythe accused, and funded by the accused. Its top state leaders are not symbols of hope but cautionary tales of what happens when ambition is severed from accountability. India deserves better. Telangana and Karnataka deserve better. And Congress—if it wants to survive—must look within before pointing fingers at everyone else.