Revanth Reddy Questions BJP's 'Jai Shri Ram' Slogan; BJP Accuses Congress of Dividing Deities

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party’s frequent use of the “Jai Shri Ram” slogan, saying the party had turned Lord Ram into a political symbol. Speaking at an event in New Delhi, Reddy said southern traditions were more closely associated with Lord Shiva and questioned why BJP leaders did not use the slogan “Har Har Mahadev” with similar frequency on public platforms. “We are Dravidians, and we have our own traditions and beliefs. We are devotees of Lord Shiva, while they identify more with Lord Ram,” he said. Reddy also said the BJP had, in his view, appropriated Lord Ram and turned him into a political symbol.

Reddy specifically asked why Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders were frequently seen using “Jai Shri Ram” but not “Har Har Mahadev”. “Have you ever seen them say ‘Har Har Mahadev’ on a public platform?” he asked. He further claimed that BJP leaders did not appear to like it when the Shiva slogan was raised. Reddy then drew a social distinction between the two religious figures, saying Lord Shiva was seen as the god of the poor while Lord Ram was portrayed as the god of the rich. He linked that description to his political criticism of the BJP, saying, “The BJP is a party of the rich. That is the simple logic behind it.”

The remarks were made as Reddy discussed broader differences he sees between political and cultural traditions in northern and southern India. His comments included references to the use of religious symbolism in politics and the way different slogans are associated with political platforms. The statements quickly drew a response from the BJP, with party leaders rejecting the distinction suggested by Reddy between Lord Ram and Lord Shiva. The BJP’s response also focused on Telangana’s own religious traditions and temples associated with both deities.

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Union Minister and BJP leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar accused Reddy of creating political divisions between Lord Ram and Lord Shiva. Sanjay Kumar referred to Vemulawada in Telangana as “Dakshina Kashi” and Bhadrachalam as “Dakshina Ayodhya”, arguing that both religious traditions have an established presence in the state. He said Reddy, as Telangana chief minister, should not divide Lord Ram and Lord Shiva along north-south lines. Sanjay Kumar also invoked the Hindu tradition of Lord Shiva consuming Halahala and accused the Congress of creating divisions involving caste, regions and religious figures. These remarks represented the BJP leader’s response to Reddy’s comments.

Sanjay Kumar also responded directly to Reddy’s question about whether BJP leaders use the “Har Har Mahadev” slogan. He pointed to Prime Minister Modi’s association with Varanasi and the Kashi Vishwanath temple, arguing that Modi’s connection with the city reflected an association with Lord Shiva. Sanjay Kumar said the religious significance of Shiva and Ram should not be presented through a political or regional divide. He further accused Reddy of invoking religious figures for political purposes and said that the two traditions should be viewed as connected rather than separated along regional or political lines.

The exchange has added to an ongoing political debate over religion, regional identity and the use of religious references in public discourse. Reddy’s comments focused on the BJP’s use of “Jai Shri Ram” and questioned why “Har Har Mahadev” was not used with similar frequency, while the BJP rejected the suggested distinction between the two religious traditions. The controversy also comes amid wider political disagreements between the Congress government in Telangana and the BJP over issues including electoral reforms and the proposed delimitation exercise. Both sides have presented different interpretations of the role of religious symbolism in political messaging.

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