Telangana politics witnessed a significant development on Thursday as Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy decided to drop minister Konda Surekha from his Council of Ministers.
The Chief Minister’s Office has forwarded the recommendation to Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla. The formal process of removing Surekha from the Cabinet will depend on the Governor’s decision.
How the Controversy Began
The political dispute intensified in August after Konda Surekha’s daughter, Sushmita, made remarks targeting Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and his family.
The comments triggered strong reactions within the ruling Congress, with several party leaders demanding disciplinary action. Surekha maintained that her daughter’s statements were personal and argued that she should not be held responsible for them.
However, the party leadership treated the episode as a matter of discipline, eventually leading to a formal review by the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee’s disciplinary mechanism.
High Command Steps In
The issue was subsequently discussed at the Congress high command level. Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and TPCC president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud held discussions with senior Congress leaders in Delhi.
The TPCC disciplinary committee had recommended strict action against Surekha as well as senior leader G. Chinna Reddy. Following further consultations with the party leadership, Revanth Reddy proceeded with the decision to seek Surekha’s removal from the Cabinet.
Chinna Reddy Also Loses Planning Board Post
In a parallel decision, the government cancelled G. Chinna Reddy’s appointment as Vice-Chairman of the Telangana Planning Board.
Gadwal Vijayalakshmi has been appointed as the new Vice-Chairperson. The government has also approved Nerella Sharada as Chairperson of the Telangana State Commission for Women and former Rajya Sabha member G. Sudha Rani as Chairperson of the Kakatiya Urban Development Authority.
Surekha Questions the Decision
Reacting to the development, Konda Surekha expressed disappointment and questioned the basis for her removal. She said she had neither been accused of corruption nor given an opportunity to explain her position before the action was taken.
She has also argued that holding her responsible for comments made by her daughter was unfair.
What Next for Telangana Congress?
Surekha’s removal could have wider political implications for the Telangana Congress. The decision comes at a time when the party is already dealing with internal differences, making the latest Cabinet shake-up a closely watched development in the state.
