Telangana CM Revanth Reddy sacks Forest Minister Konda Surekha from Cabinet
Revanth Reddy’s move follows an escalating row over Surekha’s daughter’s remarks, while the sacked minister now questions her removal and weighs her political future
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday (September 3) decided to drop his Cabinet colleague, Konda Surekha, from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect, amid a row over remarks the woman leader's daughter made against him and others.
A recommendation to this effect has been made to Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, a CMO release said.
Surekha, state Forest and Endowments Minister, has been in the eye of a storm after her daughter made critical remarks about the chief minister and other party leaders, drawing sharp responses from ruling party MLAs and functionaries.
Besides sacking Surekha, the chief minister also rescinded the appointment of G Chinna Reddy as Vice Chairman of State Planning Board with immediate effect.
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The developments followed discussions held by CM Revanth Reddy, his deputy Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, and state Congress president B Mahesh Kumar Goud with AICC leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and KC Venugopal, in Delhi over the last few days.
The Congress state unit's disciplinary committee had earlier recommended that the party leadership take tough action against Surekha and Chinna Reddy. Surekha had also met Kharge and AICC incharge of party affairs Meenakshi Natarajan in the national capital and presented her version to them.
Surekha’s strained party ties
The controversy began after Revanth called for sitting Parkal MLA Revuri Prakash Reddy to be re-elected with a strong majority in the next polls. Surekha’s daughter, Susmitha Patel, questioned Revanth’s authority to announce Revuri’s candidature and accused him of becoming arrogant after taking over as chief minister.
Surekha, however, appeared to back her daughter’s remarks, while saying she had nothing to do with them. This angered several Congress MLAs and MLCs, who demanded her removal. Surekha later escalated the confrontation by emailing senior party leaders in Delhi, making serious allegations against Revanth, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy and others.
Surekha’s ties with several party leaders had already been strained. After becoming a minister, she frequently clashed with party leaders in the erstwhile Warangal district, prompting repeated interventions by the PCC disciplinary committee. Her differences also extended to ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Gaddam Vivek.
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The controversies deepened over allegations against Sumanth, who had worked as Surekha’s OSD. Some alleged victims lodged police complaints, but efforts to trace him for questioning reportedly failed. When police received information that Sumanth was at Surekha’s residence, they went there, but her daughter Susmitha allegedly prevented them from entering and abused them. She also made remarks against Revanth. The episode caused a major uproar, but Surekha later apologised for her daughter’s remarks, helping to defuse the controversy.
Surekha weighs her next move
Surekha has now called her dismissal unfair, saying she had nothing to do with her daughter’s remarks and allegations. After her removal, she released a six-page letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, accusing Revanth, Bhatti, Ponguleti and others of wrongdoing. She questioned how a BC woman could be unilaterally removed from the Cabinet and alleged that she was denied an opportunity to explain her position.
The Konda couple are now planning to meet their supporters to discuss their political future. Speculation is rife that Surekha could resign not only as MLA but also from the Congress, leaving party leaders and cadres watching closely for her next move.