Revanth Reddy sacks Minister Konda Surekha amid row over her daughter's remarks

A political row over remarks by Konda Surekha's daughter escalates as Revanth Reddy moves to remove the minister, while Telangana also sees key changes in boards and commissions.

In Short

• Telangana CM Revanth Reddy moves to remove minister Konda Surekha from Cabinet
• Dispute triggered by Surekha's daughter criticising CM and backing Parkal seat claim
• Surekha denies party switch, accuses CM of forcible removal and government issues

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has moved to remove Forest Minister Konda Surekha from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect, escalating a political dispute that had already reached the Congress high command weeks before her daughter’s public attack on the Chief Minister.

A recommendation seeking Surekha’s removal has been sent to Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, according to an official statement issued on Thursday.

The development came on the same day that letters written by Surekha to five top Congress leaders nearly two weeks ago surfaced, in which she had raised a series of grievances against the Telangana government and alleged that she was being politically and administratively sidelined.

Reacting to her removal, Surekha said she had no intention of switching parties and accused Revanth Reddy of forcibly removing her from the Cabinet.

"I have no intention of switching parties," Surekha said. "Revanth Reddy forcibly removed me from the position," she alleged.

She also questioned why leaders who had abused or criticised Revanth Reddy were still holding positions. "Those who abused/criticised Revanth Reddy are all enjoying positions," she said.

Surekha added that she had faced issues with the Telangana government during her tenure.

SUREKHA SAYS SHE WILL STAY IN CONGRESS

Surekha made it clear that she had no plans to leave the Congress and would continue working as an MLA.

"I am not going anywhere. I am staying in Congress only. I will continue as MLA, I will do my duty as an MLA. I will take responsibility for my leader and my people," Surekha said.

She also claimed that several Congress leaders and workers shared her grievances against the government but were reluctant to voice them publicly.

"Everyone will support me. They too are not satisfied. But nobody is saying it out loud," she said.

According to Surekha, some people had told her that her daughter, Konda Sushmitha Patel, had said publicly what others within the party were unable to say.

"They told me that my daughter said what they could not. All of them feel the same but the government is not listening to them," Surekha said.

She also warned that the government could face political consequences if it failed to address the concerns of party workers and ministers.

"If they hear the workers and ministers, and resolve issues they would return to power in the next elections. Otherwise, they won't," she said.

Asked whether she would meet senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Delhi following her removal, Surekha said she would not.

"No, I won't... They won't take me back. Let's see what happens in future," she said.

When asked whether she felt cheated by Revanth Reddy, Surekha replied, "Yes."

Her comments came hours after Revanth Reddy recommended her removal from the Council of Ministers, with the recommendation being sent to Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla.

Surekha had earlier said she had no intention of switching parties and accused the Chief Minister of forcibly removing her from the Cabinet.

"Revanth Reddy forcibly removed me from the position," she alleged.

She also questioned why those who had abused or criticised Revanth Reddy were still holding positions.

"Those who abused/criticised Revanth Reddy are all enjoying positions," she said.

SUREKHA HAD ALREADY APPROACHED CONGRESS HIGH COMMAND

The letters, dated August 23, were addressed separately to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, general secretary KC Venugopal, CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi and senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

They were not publicly known until they began circulating on Thursday, the same day Revanth Reddy recommended Surekha’s removal from the Council of Ministers.

In the representations, Surekha alleged sustained political and administrative suppression as a BC woman minister. She claimed decisions relating to her departments - Forest, Environment and Endowments - were increasingly being taken through direct instructions from the Chief Minister’s Office without consulting her.

According to Surekha, this had reduced her role to a "nominal" one.

She alleged that she was not informed about the constitution of the Yadadri Temple Trust Board despite being the Endowments Minister.

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

Surekha further alleged that her photograph was left out of the state government’s official advertisements for Sri Rama Navami this year.

CLAIMS OVER OSD, CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT

Surekha also raised concerns over her former OSD Sumanth, claiming he was removed from his post without informing her.

She alleged that police later came to her official residence seeking to arrest him and said he now faces a second non-bailable case which, in her view, lacks adequate evidence.

On development in her constituency, Warangal East, Surekha alleged that funds sanctioned for neighbouring constituencies were not being made available for projects in her area.

She cited delays in the Warangal Smart City Model Bus Stand and the Bondi Vagu expansion.

She also alleged that Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari held a review meeting with Endowments Department officials without involving her.

According to Surekha, no action was taken despite her raising an objection with the party leadership.

SUREKHA QUESTIONS ‘UNEQUAL’ POLITICAL STANDARDS

In her letters, Surekha also contrasted Revanth Reddy’s public comments on whether Congress leader Jagga Reddy would contest from Sangareddy with the Chief Minister’s own campaigning in Parkal for sitting MLA Revuri Prakash Reddy.

She referred to Revanth Reddy’s public position that the decision on Jagga Reddy’s candidature rested with the Congress high command.

Against that, she pointed to the Chief Minister’s public appeal in Parkal for Prakash Reddy’s renomination, calling it evidence of unequal political standards within the party.

Surekha also argued that it was inappropriate to hold a mother accountable for the personal remarks of an adult daughter.

She alleged that she was being selectively targeted as a BC woman leader, while similar remarks made by other leaders against Revanth Reddy had gone unaddressed.

Each of the letters reportedly included a pen drive containing "relevant videos and other supporting materials" for the Congress leadership’s reference.

Despite raising the grievances, Surekha did not threaten to leave the Congress in the letters. She said her faith in the party leadership remained unwavering.

Eleven days after writing the representations, Surekha was formally dropped from the Cabinet, with Revanth Reddy sending a recommendation for her removal to the Governor.

WHAT TRIGGERED THE LATEST ROW?

The immediate political crisis, however, followed remarks by Surekha’s daughter, Konda Sushmitha Patel, who publicly attacked Revanth Reddy over his support for Congress MLA Revuri Prakash Reddy.

Days before Sushmitha’s remarks, Revanth Reddy had addressed a public meeting in Parkal and urged voters to re-elect sitting MLA Revuri Prakash Reddy with an even bigger majority than the last time.

Sushmitha questioned why the Chief Minister was backing Prakash Reddy in what she described as "Konda territory".

"Why are you coming to my area, coming to Konda's territory, and asking people to elect Prakash Reddy again?" she asked.

The remarks assumed political significance as Sushmitha has herself expressed interest in contesting the Parkal Assembly seat in the next election.

She then escalated her attack, alleging that Revanth Reddy and his brothers had benefited at the expense of the state. She also raised an allegation involving government land worth Rs 200 crore and a shell company.

"Except for you and your brothers falling upon the state and exploiting it, you haven't done anything else," Sushmitha said.

"Why are you (CM Revanth Reddy) picking a fight with us? Why are you doing this to us?" she asked.

Sushmitha also brought caste identity into her attack, saying members of the Kapu community knew agriculture but did not know how to be "subservient".

"We belong to the Kapu community... We know agriculture, but we do not know how to be subservient/servile," she said.

She added, "We are Padmashalis... We know how to weave textiles, but unlike these people, we do not know how to be subservient."

Sushmitha further accused people surrounding the Chief Minister of "brokerage" and claimed they were giving him the "wrong signals".

She, however, said she continued to hold the Congress high command, including the All India Congress Committee, in high regard.

CONGRESS SEEKS EXPLANATION FROM SUREKHA

Sushmitha’s remarks triggered discontent within the Telangana Congress, with several party MLAs demanding disciplinary action against Surekha.

The Telangana Congress disciplinary committee subsequently asked Surekha to submit a reply within three days over her daughter’s comments.

In his directive, committee chairman and Lok Sabha MP Mallu Ravi said the panel, after receiving information and going through relevant material, felt that a comprehensive reply was required.

Surekha rejected the basis of the notice, arguing that her daughter’s remarks were made independently and that she could not be held responsible for them.

"Expecting another person to take political responsibility or demanding an explanation for someone's opinions merely due to family relations is improper," Surekha said.

Asked whether she supported her daughter’s remarks, Surekha maintained that Sushmitha was an independent person and should not be made responsible for her political views.

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

CHANGES IN TELANGANA BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

Alongside the move to drop Surekha from the Cabinet, the Telangana administration has approved several changes in the leadership of key statutory bodies and commissions.

The appointment of G Chinna Reddy as Vice Chairman of the Telangana Planning Board has been rescinded with immediate effect. Gadwal Vijayalakshmi has been designated as the new Vice Chairman of the planning board.

The Chief Minister has also cleared the appointment of Nerella Sharada as Chairperson of the Telangana State Commission for Women in Hyderabad.

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

The recommendation to remove Surekha from the Council of Ministers now awaits formal action by the Governor, turning a dispute that began with her daughter’s remarks into a much wider confrontation over Surekha’s own grievances with the Telangana government and the Congress leadership.

- Ends