The infighting within the Telangana Congress has taken a decisive turn with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy removing Endowments and Forests Minister Konda Surekha from his cabinet.
The move came after the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee’s disciplinary panel recommended action against Surekha over controversial remarks made by her daughter, Konda Sushmita Patel, against the Chief Minister and his family.
The committee reportedly recommended not only Surekha’s removal from the cabinet but also the removal of G Chinna Reddy from the Telangana Planning Board, citing violations of party discipline.
Surekha maintained that her daughter’s remarks were personal and that she should not be held responsible for them. However, that explanation did not satisfy the party leadership, particularly leaders seen as close to Revanth Reddy.
Revanth is understood to have discussed the issue with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal during his Delhi visit and pressed for strong action.
Surekha, meanwhile, refused to resign despite mounting pressure and challenged the party leadership to remove her if it wanted to act against her.
After her removal, she expressed disappointment over the way the decision was taken and argued that she should have been given a proper opportunity to explain her position.
The episode, however, appears to go beyond a disciplinary issue.
Surekha’s removal is being seen as a strong assertion of Revanth Reddy’s authority over both the cabinet and the Telangana Congress organisation. It also sends a message to other dissenting leaders that open confrontation with the Chief Minister could have political consequences.
OBC Factor
Surekha’s removal also carries social and political significance because she is a prominent BC woman leader with a strong base in the erstwhile Warangal region.
She had earlier questioned whether the Congress was applying different standards to BC and non-BC leaders.
Against this backdrop, the government moved quickly to appoint three BC women from the Warangal region to important positions.
Gadwal Vijayalakshmi was appointed Vice-Chairperson of the Telangana Planning Board, Nerella Sharada as Chairperson of the Telangana State Commission for Women, and former Rajya Sabha MP G Sudha Rani as Chairperson of the Kakatiya Urban Development Authority.
These appointments are being seen as an attempt to reduce the political impact of Surekha’s removal and reassure BC leaders that the action was directed at an individual rather than a community.
Old Guard vs Revanth Camp
The controversy has also brought the growing divide within the Telangana Congress into sharper focus.
A section of senior Congress leaders appears increasingly uncomfortable with the political network that has developed around Revanth Reddy since the party came to power.
Leaders such as Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, D Sridhar Babu, Damodar Rajanarasimha and other veterans are often identified with the party’s old guard.
On the other side are leaders seen as politically closer to Revanth Reddy and his expanding network within the party.
The tensions suggest that the battle is no longer just about individual remarks or disciplinary issues, but also about influence and control within the Telangana Congress.
Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy’s recent comments have added to that perception. He warned against newcomers attempting to dominate the Congress and said long-standing party workers should not be sidelined.
For now, Revanth Reddy has succeeded in removing Surekha from the cabinet, strengthening his authority within the government.
The larger political question, however, is whether the move will end the internal rebellion or deepen the old guard-versus-new guard divide within the Telangana Congress.
