Konda Surekha Dropped from Telangana Cabinet, Accuses Revanth Reddy of ‘Blackmail Politics’

Telangana Forest and Endowments Minister Konda Surekha has been removed from the Cabinet, bringing to a head a political and disciplinary dispute within the ruling Congress that was triggered by her daughter’s public criticism of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and senior party leaders. Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla approved the Chief Minister’s recommendation to remove Surekha with immediate effect.

The Congress high command had cleared the action after the party’s disciplinary process examined complaints against Surekha. TPCC Disciplinary Committee chairman and Nagarkurnool MP Mallu Ravi said the decision was taken after considering the political damage caused to the party and government by the controversial remarks. He said the committee had submitted a detailed report recommending strict action against Surekha as well as G Chinnareddy, the Telangana State Planning Board vice-chairman.

Speaking to reporters after her dismissal, however, Surekha strongly disputed the reasoning behind the action. She alleged that Revanth Reddy had resorted to “blackmail politics” to secure her removal and claimed that the Congress high command had not originally wanted to sack her. She said she had committed no wrongdoing and was not given an opportunity to explain her position before being removed.

Surekha said it was painful to lose the Cabinet post without being informed or given reasons. She alleged that the action was driven by a vindictive attitude over the criticism directed at the Chief Minister and other Congress leaders by her daughter, Konda Sushmitha Patel. Surekha also questioned Revanth Reddy’s assertion that he would continue as Chief Minister in the next term and criticised his comments about deciding candidates for the forthcoming Assembly elections.

The dispute intensified after Sushmitha publicly challenged Revanth Reddy over his support for Parkal MLA Revuri Prakash Reddy. At a gathering in Geesugonda on August 19, she questioned the Chief Minister’s authority to indicate the candidate for Parkal, a seat she herself was reportedly interested in contesting. She challenged him to make Revuri resign and face a by-election, saying she would contest as an independent if the Congress denied her a ticket.

Sushmitha also levelled serious allegations against Revanth Reddy and his family, including a claim involving government land worth around ₹200 crore and a shell company. Her remarks triggered anger within the Telangana Congress, with several MLAs demanding action against Surekha and faulting her for not publicly condemning her daughter’s statements.

Surekha, however, maintained that her daughter is an adult and an independent individual whose political statements cannot be attributed to her. She repeatedly questioned why she should be held responsible for views expressed by her daughter.

The disciplinary process had begun earlier, with the Telangana Congress panel issuing a notice to Surekha and subsequently recommending her removal. According to Mallu Ravi, the committee examined complaints, media reports, previous developments and the replies submitted by the leaders before making its recommendation. He stressed that party discipline was paramount and that senior leaders could not cross the party’s disciplinary boundaries irrespective of their stature.

Mallu Ravi also said the panel received complaints against G Chinnareddy, alleging that he had made objectionable remarks against the AICC and TPCC leadership. The committee also examined his criticism of Wanaparthy MLA Tudi Megha Reddy and recommended cancellation of his appointment as Planning Board vice-chairman.

Surekha had separately approached the Congress leadership in Delhi to present her case. She met AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Telangana Congress affairs in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, while also sending representations to senior leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. She argued that she had performed effectively as a minister and faced no corruption allegations.

In her defence, Surekha also said she and her husband, Konda Murali, had built their political careers through hard work and public support. She described the ministerial position as merely an “ornament” and said she was not upset about losing the post itself. What she objected to, she said, was being removed without prior notice or an explanation. She has also indicated that she intends to remain with the Congress and continue serving as an MLA.

Alongside Surekha’s dismissal, the government cancelled G Chinnareddy’s appointment as Planning Board vice-chairman. Gadwal Vijayalakshmi, who was serving as Telangana Women’s Commission chairperson, has been appointed to replace him. The government has also appointed 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 (KUDA).

The developments mark a significant escalation of an internal Congress dispute that began with a daughter’s political attack but has now widened into a confrontation involving Cabinet authority, party discipline, leadership decisions and Surekha’s allegations against the state leadership.