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Congress leader Konda Surekha, who was dropped from the Telangana Cabinet on Thursday, September 3, alleged that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had “blackmailed” the party high command into removing her and accused Congress leaders of targeting her for political reasons.
Surekha, who held the Forests and Environment portfolio, said she was not given an opportunity to explain her position before Revanth Reddy recommended her removal. She claimed that she had responded to the show-cause notices issued to her and questioned why the party leadership had not consulted her before taking action.
She also questioned the authenticity of an unsigned communication announcing the decision and described her removal as an act of “political vendetta”. Surekha named Congress leaders Ponguleti Srinivas, Kondal Reddy and Tirupati Reddy, among others, as being responsible for her exit.
The disciplinary action followed controversial remarks by Surekha’s daughter, Konda Sushmitha Patel, against Revanth Reddy and his family at a public event last month. Defending her daughter, Surekha said Sushmitha was an adult and that her views should not be attributed to her.
“Why should I be held responsible for statements made by my daughter?” Surekha asked. She also questioned why action had not been taken against Congress leaders Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy and T Jagga Reddy over their past controversial remarks.
Surekha further questioned the decision to rescind veteran Congress leader G Chinna Reddy’s appointment as Vice-Chairman of the Telangana Planning Board. She argued that it was unfair to take action against Chinna Reddy merely because disciplinary proceedings had also been initiated against her.
The Governor’s office said on Thursday night that Surekha had been removed from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect on the Chief Minister’s advice. The announcement came after Revanth Reddy met Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla at Lok Bhavan. Sources said Surekha had refused to resign, leaving the Chief Minister to recommend her removal.
The move came after two days of discussions between Revanth Reddy and the Congress high command in New Delhi over alleged indiscipline. The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee’s disciplinary committee had recommended action against both Surekha and Chinna Reddy over their recent remarks.
Surekha had resisted pressure to resign and challenged the party leadership to take action against her. She also met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi on Wednesday, as the high command considered disciplinary action.
Amid the controversy, Revanth Reddy approved the appointment of three BC women to key positions in the state. Surekha welcomed the move, saying she was pleased that women were being given important responsibilities.
Gadwal Vijayalakshmi, a leader from the Munnuru Kapu community, was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Telangana Planning Board with Cabinet rank. Nerella Sharada was appointed Chairperson of the Telangana State Commission for Women, while former Rajya Sabha MP G Sudha Rani was appointed Chairperson of the Kakatiya Urban Development Authority (KUDA).
The appointments came amid criticism over the removal of a BC woman from the Cabinet. Vijayalakshmi belongs to the Munnuru Kapu community, Sharada to the Goud community and Sudha Rani to the Padmashali community, the same community as Surekha. Sudha Rani and Surekha are also from Warangal district.
