Konda Surekha Demands Explanation From Revanth Reddy Over Cabinet Removal
Former endowments minister Konda Surekha on Thursday stated in Hyderabad that she would not seek a recall of the Congress high command's decision to drop her from the state cabinet, but demanded that the All India Congress Committee and Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy explain why she was removed without being given an opportunity to respond.
Surekha alleged that the Congress high command was initially not inclined to dismiss her, but Chief Minister Revanth Reddy pressured the central leadership into taking the decision. Describing the action as an act of political vendetta, she stated that no party leader had asked for her resignation before the announcement was made. She also questioned why she received no advance notice and pointed out that the official communication announcing her removal was issued without a signature.
Maintaining that she had committed no corruption, Surekha said she had formally responded to all show-cause notices previously served on her. She also defended her daughter, Konda Sushmitha Patel, stating that she is an adult whose personal opinions should not be attributed to her mother, and questioned why she was held responsible for comments made by a family member. Surekha noted that Sushmitha had been seeking a Congress ticket for nearly a decade, citing precedents such as Kadiyam Srihari's daughter becoming a Member of Parliament and former TPCC president D Srinivas's family having ties to multiple political parties.
Surekha questioned the disparity in disciplinary measures within the party, pointing out that leaders like Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy, T Jagga Reddy, and Mallu Ravi faced no comparable action after making controversial remarks and continue to hold positions. She directly accused ministers Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy and Vem Narender Reddy of conspiring against her, and criticised the removal of veteran leader G Chinna Reddy from the Planning Board as collateral fallout from the party's move against her.
Additionally, Surekha highlighted an incident involving her former Officer on Special Duty, Sumanth, claiming he was dismissed without her knowledge before police visited her residence intending to arrest him. She also claimed that several MLAs and ministers currently feel suffocated within the ruling party, urging the government to conduct an internal survey into grassroots public sentiment.
Surekha stated that she has not yet decided on her future political steps but has no objections to remaining in the Congress party. She affirmed that she and her husband, Konda Murali, will continue their public work within her constituency, while adding that she was pleased to see three Backward Classes women appointed to key positions in recent postings.
