In a significant tribute to former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge unveiled his statue at the busy Lakdikapul X Roads in Hyderabad on Friday, July 4. The event coincided with Rosaiah’s birth anniversary and was attended by several dignitaries including Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and other senior Congress leaders. Rosaiah, who served as the chief minister of the undivided Andhra Pradesh from 2009 to 2010, is remembered for his political maturity and calm leadership during a transitional period following Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s sudden demise.

The Telangana government recently issued a formal notification declaring that July 4 will henceforth be observed every year as Rosaiah’s birth anniversary, with official events and tributes held across all districts in the state. The responsibility for organizing the celebrations has been assigned to the Telangana Tourism and Cultural Department, with orders issued to respective district collectors to coordinate events and pay homage to the late leader. The statue installation in Hyderabad reflects the Congress government’s effort to honor its past leaders and showcase the party’s legacy in the region, even as Rosaiah hailed from present-day Andhra Pradesh.

However, the decision has sparked political curiosity, with several observers noting that Rosaiah was not a native of Telangana. Despite this, the Congress-led Telangana government has chosen to celebrate his legacy in a prominent public space in the state capital. The move may also be interpreted as a gesture of regional political continuity and respect for experienced leadership, transcending current state boundaries. Rosaiah, who passed away in 2021, held multiple important portfolios in his decades-long career and was admired for his uncontroversial and administrative acumen, making him a respected figure in Indian politics.