Days after threatening to quit the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and contest independently, senior leader Konda Surekha from Warangal East constituency, has sparked off a new controversy. The four-time MLA has accused caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao of sidelining caretaker Minister T Harish Rao and leaders who are close to the latter.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Surekha and her husband and TRS MLC Konda Murali said that they had decided to quit the party as they felt 'betrayed' and 'cheated' by KCR. They also accused him of actively working to ensure that it was his son, KT Rama Rao, who would succeed him as the chief minister of the state.
Addressing KCR, she said, "Generally, parents in arranged marriages see a good match for their children, with the wish that they live happily for the rest of their lives. In that way, you are also trying to set up the people of Telangana with KTR, when they gave you a mandate for five years. You cheated them by dissolving the Assembly. People can also clearly see through your attempts to hand over the reins to your son."
The couple also pointed out to the recent emotional outburst by Harish Rao, amid allegations that the TRS was blacking out his events and attempting to sideline him.
Last week, the senior TRS leader was invited to an event at his adopted village of Ibrahimpur, where locals passed a unanimous resolution that they would only vote for Harish Rao in the upcoming election.
Speaking at the event, an emotional Harish Rao said, “I feel like quitting politics now when I am enjoying enormous love and tremendous support. I will continue to serve you irrespective of whether I will be in politics or not.”
This statement had triggered a political row in the state.
Meanwhile, Surekha said on Tuesday, "They know we are close to Harish Rao. It is openly there for everyone to see. Just look at the leaders who got the ticket and those who didn't. How hurt he must have been, if he spoke like that publicly."
However, Surekha’s comments did not go down too well with KTR, who was asked for a response on the sidelines of another event.
"People who are leaving the party will obviously say such things. As long as they're in the party, we are good people. When they are leaving, they have to throw a few stones and go, so they are doing it. It is common and not something that we should take seriously. The people will soon show how much support is there with the TRS and how much is there with opposition parties," KTR told reporters.