As expected, Telangana Endowments, Environment and Forests Minister Konda Surekha was sacked from the Revanth Reddy cabinet on Thursday, hours after she refused to resign on her own and challenged the Congress high command to take action against her.
Following approval from the Congress high command, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy wrote to Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, recommending Surekha’s removal from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect.
Surekha’s fate had been hanging in the balance for the last two weeks, ever since she was served a show-cause notice by the PCC disciplinary committee seeking an explanation over controversial remarks made by her daughter, Konda Sushmita, against Revanth Reddy at a meeting in Warangal on August 19.
Though Surekha replied to the notice the same day, stating that she could not be held responsible for her daughter’s comments and requesting the party to withdraw the notice, the PCC was reportedly not satisfied with her explanation and sent a report to the high command recommending action against her.
On Wednesday, the Congress high command held discussions with Revanth Reddy, PCC chief Mahesh Kumar Goud and other senior Telangana Congress leaders in New Delhi. Surekha also rushed to the national capital to present her case, but reportedly could not get an audience with the senior leadership.
The AICC subsequently gave its approval for her removal from the cabinet.
Reacting strongly to her dismissal, Surekha alleged that the Congress high command had acted unilaterally without properly hearing her explanation. She questioned why she was being held responsible for remarks made by her daughter, whom she described as an independent woman.
“I am not worried about my dismissal from the cabinet, but what hurt me was the way it was done, without even seeking my explanation,” Surekha told reporters at her residence in Hyderabad.
During the media interaction, Surekha released a letter she had addressed to the Congress high command and questioned why similar action had not been taken against other party leaders over their controversial remarks.
“Why has no action been taken against statements made by former MLA T Jagga Reddy and MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy against the Chief Minister in the past?” she asked.
Surekha asserted that she and other leaders had risen in politics through public support and were ultimately accountable to the people.
She also called upon Congress leaders unhappy with developments within the government and the party to speak out.
“Those leaders who are facing difficulties should come out and raise their voice. Speak up about what is happening in the government. Otherwise, there will be no option but to suffer the consequences,” she said.
Surekha urged the Revanth Reddy government to “correct and change” its approach, particularly with municipal corporation elections approaching.
Despite her removal from the cabinet and criticism of the leadership, Surekha made it clear that she had no plans to leave the Congress.
“I will continue in the party. I will attend the Assembly sessions as an MLA,” she said.
