Politics and religion mix so well in India, and Telangana is no exception.

Take the latest instance in Vemulawada on Deepavali day. The revered Sringeri Peethadhipathi visited the famous Lord Shiva temple. Naturally, the occasion demanded nothing short of a spiritual spectacle. The arrangements were elaborate, the atmosphere festive, and the flex banners fluttered proudly in the temple breeze.

But one look at those banners, and it was clear this wasn’t just divine devotion on display. The smell of politics was unmistakable—part ego, part insecurity.

The main banner outside the temple and elsewhere in the temple town featured the smiling faces of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Ministers D. Sridhar Babu and Ponnam Prabhakar, and the local MLA (and government whip) Adi Srinivas.

And whos

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