Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy began an executive education programme at Harvard University in the United States. He enrolled in a leadership course at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, Revanth Reddy joined the programme titled Leadership in the 21st Century: Chaos, Conflict and Courage. Classes began on Sunday local time with an orientation session and introductions among participants.
From Monday, the programme runs daily from 7 am to 6 pm. During this period, the Chief Minister attends lectures and analyses case studies. He also takes part in consultative group discussions. As part of the curriculum, he completes assignments, homework and group projects with other participants. The classes will continue until January 30. After completion, he will receive a certificate from Harvard.
BJP questions CM’s decision to attend Harvard course
The CMO said participants from over 20 countries across five continents joined the programme. It added that this marked the first instance in independent India of a sitting Chief Minister enrolling in an executive course at an Ivy League university.
Meanwhile, severe weather conditions affected the Boston region due to a snowstorm named Fern. The area recorded snowfall of up to two feet and temperatures below- 20 degrees Celsius. Despite the harsh weather, Revanth Reddy continued to attend classes. He travelled to the United States after participating in the World Economic Forum meeting held in Davos, Switzerland, last week.
However, the BJP criticised the Chief Minister’s decision. BJP State chief spokesperson N V Subhash said leadership did not come from short-term academic courses. He argued that governance, accountability and grassroots outcomes defined leadership.
Subhash questioned why the Chief Minister had not completed such courses earlier. He said the State itself was the Chief Minister’s real classroom, not a foreign campus. He also alleged that the visit gave priority to personal ambition over public responsibility and raised questions over the expenditure involved.