Hyderabad: Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Thursday removed Endowments Minister Konda Surekha from the Telangana Council of Ministers, officials reported, after a controversy sparked by remarks made by Surekha’s daughter, Konda Sushmitha Patel, about the Chief Minister and Parkal MLA Revuri Prakash Reddy.
Party discipline cited as reason for action
The decision follows a recommendation by the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee’s disciplinary panel, which took cognisance of Sushmitha’s comments at a public programme in the Parkal area that questioned the Chief Minister’s support for the sitting MLA.
State Congress leaders and MLAs aligned with the Chief Minister had demanded strict action after the remarks triggered a sharp reaction within the party. Sources said Revanth Reddy discussed the matter with senior Congress functionaries in Delhi, including AICC leaders, before the dismissal.
Minister contests responsibility for daughter’s words
Surekha has maintained that her daughter’s views were personal and should not be attributed to her. According to reports, she rejected calls to resign and wrote to party high command protesting the action.
"I was dismissed without any prior notice. The letter was issued without my signature. I have not made any decisions yet. What do what my family members said have to do with me?" said Surekha, according to reports.
The minister’s refusal to step down intensified the dispute between elements of the party often characterised as the old guard and groups perceived as loyal to the Chief Minister, turning a local constituency spat into a state-wide political flashpoint.
Local context: Parkal and intra-family influence
The controversy centres on the Parkal Assembly constituency, a seat where the Konda family has held influence. During a recent public event in the constituency, the Chief Minister backed the sitting MLA, Revuri Prakash Reddy, urging voters to re-elect him. Sushmitha publicly asked why the Chief Minister was campaigning in what she called "Konda territory" and queried his support for the incumbent.
That public questioning of the CM’s local outreach is reported to have inflamed tensions inside the state unit of the Congress, prompting calls for disciplinary measures against Surekha for failing to keep family members from intervening in party politics.
What the disciplinary panel recommended
Reports indicate the TPCC disciplinary committee proposed not only Surekha’s removal from the state Cabinet but also action against other party functionaries believed to have breached discipline. One recommendation reportedly named Chinna Reddy for removal from the Telangana Planning Board, though the state leadership has not released full details of the panel’s findings.
| Key event | Date / status |
|---|---|
| Sushmitha’s comments at Parkal programme | August (publicly reported) |
| TPCC disciplinary panel recommends action | Late August / early September (reported) |
| Chief Minister sacks Konda Surekha | 3 September (action taken) |
Political implications for Telangana Congress
Party insiders said the move marks a clear assertion of discipline by the Chief Minister and his supporters within the state unit. It also sharpens an existing struggle between established leaders with long local networks and newer leaders who back Revanth Reddy’s leadership. Observers note the episode could influence candidate selection and local alliances ahead of future Assembly polls.
- Immediate effect: Konda Surekha removed from Council of Ministers with immediate effect.
- Trigger: Remarks by Konda Sushmitha Patel at a Parkal public meeting questioning CM’s support for the sitting MLA.
- Broader issue: Factional rivalry in Telangana Congress between old guard and CM-aligned leadership.
There has been no formal statement from the state Congress releasing the dismissal order text or listing successor arrangements for the Endowments portfolio. The party leadership in New Delhi has been reported to have been consulted during the dispute, but AICC spokespeople have not issued an official comment.
The removal of a sitting minister on account of a family member’s remarks is likely to be debated within party circles for its implications on internal dissent and the limits of political accountability for relatives. The Parkal seat and the Konda family’s local standing will be watched closely as the Congress reconfigures its state strategy.
Reporting for this story drew on accounts published by national outlets that covered the development.
