Dropped From Telangana Cabinet, Konda Surekha Alleges Conspiracy by Revanth Reddy
Hyderabad: Minutes after Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy announced her removal from the Telangana Cabinet, Forest Minister Konda Surekha launched a sharp attack against him, alleging that a conspiracy had been orchestrated against her by the Chief Minister’s brothers and senior leaders, including Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy.
Surekha specifically named Kondal Reddy, Tirupati Reddy, Rajya Sabha MP Vem Narender Reddy, and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy as being behind the conspiracy. Explaining the friction, she stated that the Revenue Minister had shown partiality towards her ever since he was appointed in-charge of the erstwhile Warangal district. Speaking to a news channel, she termed the party high command’s approval to drop her from the Cabinet as unfortunate and asserted that the Chief Minister had blackmailed the AICC leadership by threatening to quit if action was not taken against her.
Following the decision, the Warangal East MLA addressed letters to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, and other national leaders, seeking their intervention over what she described as political and administrative suppression. Surekha charged that she was being marginalised as a Backward Classes (BC) minister, noting that multiple decisions concerning her departments were issued directly by the Chief Minister’s Office without consulting her.
The turmoil within the Cabinet intensified after Surekha’s daughter, Konda Sushmitha, alleged that the Chief Minister had allocated prime land to his brother’s shell company at a throwaway price. In response to Congress MLAs and MLCs demanding disciplinary action or a condemnation of the statements, Surekha maintained that her daughter is an adult with every right to express individual opinions, questioning why she should be held accountable or why similar standards were not applied in the case of a BJP MP from former minister D Srinivas’s family.
Surekha claimed that numerous legislators and leaders under the current administration are dissatisfied due to difficulties in meeting the Chief Minister or securing sanctions for developmental works. Suggesting that the Congress conduct a ground-level survey to assess public sentiment and address unfulfilled promises, Surekha stated that she harboured no regrets and would consult her supporters before deciding her next course of action.
