Revanth Reddy Drops Konda Surekha From Telangana Cabinet Amid Daughter’s Remarks Row

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has recommended the removal of Forest Minister Konda Surekha from the state Cabinet, escalating a political dispute that had been brewing within the Congress for weeks.

The recommendation to remove Surekha from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect has been sent to Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla. The move came on Thursday, the same day letters written by Surekha to five senior Congress leaders on August 23 surfaced publicly.

In the letters, Surekha had alleged that she was being politically and administratively sidelined by the Telangana government. She claimed that key decisions concerning her departments — Forest, Environment and Endowments — were increasingly being taken through the Chief Minister’s Office without consulting her.

Reacting to her removal, Surekha accused Revanth Reddy of forcibly dropping her from the Cabinet but said she had no intention of leaving the Congress.

“I am not going anywhere. I am staying in Congress only. I will continue as MLA,” Surekha said, adding that she would continue working for her constituents and the party.

She also questioned why leaders who had criticised or allegedly abused Revanth Reddy continued to hold positions while action was being taken against her.

SUREKHA HAD FLAGGED GRIEVANCES TO CONGRESS LEADERS

Surekha’s August 23 letters were addressed separately to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, general secretary KC Venugopal, CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

In the representations, she described herself as being subjected to sustained political and administrative suppression as a BC woman minister. She alleged that her role had effectively been reduced to a “nominal” one.

She cited several instances, including being kept out of the process surrounding the constitution of the Yadadri Temple Trust Board despite holding the Endowments portfolio.

She also alleged that funds released by her department for the development of the Sammakka-Saralamma Temple were transferred to the Roads and Buildings Department without her knowledge.

Another grievance concerned the omission of her photograph from the state government’s official Sri Rama Navami advertisements.

Surekha also raised concerns over her former OSD Sumanth, claiming he was removed without informing her and later faced police action.

On development in her Warangal East constituency, she alleged delays in projects including the Warangal Smart City Model Bus Stand and Bondi Vagu expansion. She also objected to a review meeting involving Endowments Department officials conducted by Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari without her participation.

ROW ERUPTED AFTER DAUGHTER’S ATTACK ON CM

The immediate trigger for the latest confrontation was a series of remarks made by Surekha’s daughter, Konda Sushmitha Patel, against Revanth Reddy.

The remarks came after the Chief Minister campaigned in Parkal and appealed to voters to re-elect sitting Congress MLA Revuri Prakash Reddy with a bigger majority.

Sushmitha questioned why Revanth Reddy was backing Prakash Reddy in what she described as “Konda territory”. She has herself expressed interest in contesting the Parkal Assembly seat in the next election.

She also levelled allegations against Revanth Reddy and his brothers, including claims involving government land and a shell company.

Sushmitha further criticised what she described as the political treatment of her family and made references to caste identity while attacking those around the Chief Minister.

The remarks triggered anger within the Telangana Congress, with several MLAs seeking disciplinary action against Surekha.

SUREKHA REJECTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAUGHTER’S REMARKS

The Telangana Congress disciplinary committee subsequently sought an explanation from Surekha over her daughter’s comments and gave her three days to respond.

Surekha rejected the premise of the notice, arguing that her daughter was an independent adult and that she could not be held politically responsible for another person’s views.

She also maintained that she did not endorse the idea of holding family members accountable for each other’s political statements.

Earlier, after meeting Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Telangana affairs in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, Surekha had defended her record as a minister and said there were no corruption allegations against her.

CHANGES IN KEY TELANGANA BODIES

The Cabinet-related development was accompanied by changes in the leadership of several statutory bodies and commissions in Telangana.

G Chinna Reddy’s appointment as Vice Chairman of the Telangana Planning Board was rescinded with immediate effect, with Gadwal Vijayalakshmi named as his replacement.

The government also cleared Nerella Sharada’s appointment as Chairperson of the Telangana State Commission for Women.

Former Rajya Sabha member Sudha Rani was approved as the new Chairperson of the Kakatiya Urban Development Authority (KUDA).

Surekha’s removal from the Council of Ministers will take formal effect following action by Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla. The episode has now expanded beyond the remarks made by her daughter, bringing Surekha’s long-standing grievances against the Telangana government and the Congress leadership into the centre of the political dispute.