NEW DELHI: Raising a banner of revolt against her own party leadership from the national capital, Telangana Environment, Forest, and Endowments Minister Konda Surekha made defiant remarks during an informal interaction with reporters in New Delhi. Dropping major political bombshells, the embattled minister demanded that if the AICC high command plans to initiate disciplinary measures against her, it should first take action against Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
During the media interaction, Minister Surekha mounted a direct assault on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, questioning his past unilateral statements, such as declaring publicly that he would remain Chief Minister for the next ten years. Questioning the fairness of the party’s internal standards, she raised sharp concerns about whether there is “one rule for a Backward Classes (BC) leader and another for other social groups” within the Congress ranks. Pointing out that several other ministers in the state cabinet face serious allegations, she demanded to know what explanations or actions the party leadership would pursue regarding those leaders.
Minister Surekha further clarified that she traveled to New Delhi on personal work and dismissed claims that she had been summoned by the party high command. She asserted that the AICC leadership has not asked her to resign from her post and confirmed that she has already submitted a detailed written report outlining her position on the recent controversies. Expressing frustration over internal party politics, she alleged that several ministers and leaders within the Telangana Congress unit are deeply dissatisfied, claiming a coordinated internal campaign is attempting to target her.
The minister’s explosive statements from Delhi have dramatically raised the political temperature in Telangana, signaling an open conflict between a sitting cabinet minister and the chief minister. This public fallout comes on the heels of a Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) disciplinary committee report submitted to the high command following controversial comments made by Surekha’s daughter, Konda Sushmita. With Chief Minister Revanth Reddy having already discussed the matter with AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal in New Delhi, all eyes are now on the central Congress leadership to see how it navigates this escalating crisis.
