Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Sept 3: The infighting within the ruling Congress in Telangana has come to the fore with the sacking of a minister because her daughter criticised the chief minister Revanth Reddy with a section of the Congressmen in the state increasingly becoming critical of how the Telangana unit of the party was being run.
Revanth Reddy’s move to recommend resignation of Endowments Minister Konda Surekha from his cabinet came after the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee’s disciplinary committee recommended action against the minister over controversial remarks made by her daughter, Konda Sushmita Patel, against the chief minister and his family.
The disciplinary committee reportedly proposed not only Surekha’s removal from the cabinet but also the removal of Chinna Reddy from the Telangana Planning Board, citing violations of party discipline.
The controversy erupted after Surekha’s daughter, Sushmita Patel, made remarks against Revanth Reddy and his family during a public programme in August. Surekha maintained that her daughter’s views were personal and that she should not be held responsible for them. However, that explanation failed to satisfy parts of the state Congress, especially MLAs perceived as close to the chief minister, who demanded disciplinary action against the minister.
Revanth is understood to have discussed the issue with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and AICC general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal during his visit to Delhi, urging stringent measures.
Meanwhile, Surekha refused to resign despite mounting pressure and challenged the party leadership to take action against her.She also wrote letters to the AICC top brass, expressing her discontent at her removal. “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? I have been trying for ten years to secure a party ticket for my daughter. I have not committed any corruption. At the very least, they should have spoken to me before making such a decision,” said Konda Surekha.
The decision to recommend her removal from the cabinet clearly demonstrates the chief minister’s authority. The move’s significance extends beyond Surekha herself. A cabinet dismissal sponsored by the high command also sends a strong political signal to other leaders within the state unit, reaffirming that the chief minister holds the power to decide his ministerial team.
What started as a controversy over comments by a minister’s daughter has escalated into a broader conflict over who controls the Telangana Congress. The episode has revealed an increasing divide between the party’s established leadership and the newer generation that has mushroomed around Revanth Reddy since the Congress’s return to power in Telangana.
The increasing friction suggests that the conflict is no longer simply about individual statements or disciplinary breaches, but about political influence and succession within the Telangana Congress.
Konda Surekha also accused the chief minister of blackmailing the party high command into removing her. “The high command has no intention to remove me. I know that 100 per cent. But the Chief Minister indulged in blackmail politics, saying he would go if I am not removed,” she told reporters later.
Surekha’s trouble began after her daughter criticised the chief minister and other party leaders, attracting sharp reactions from the MLAs of the ruling party. She was asked to explain the remarks. “Expecting another person to take political responsibility or demanding an explanation for someone’s opinions merely due to family relations is improper,” she explained to the Telangana Congress unit.
She later met with Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan in Delhi to control the damage and explain her position. Her explanation proved inadequate. The party’s disciplinary panel recommended action against her. She also claimed she had sent emails to top Congress leaders like Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi, explaining she didn’t share her daughter’s opinion about the chief minister.
Konda Sushmita wanted a Congress ticket from Parkal. On Wednesday, she challenged Revanth Reddy’s backing of sitting MLA Revuri Prakash Reddy. She said she would contest the poll independently and win it. “Why wait two years? Ask him to resign right now! Tell him to resign and contest the elections. Whether you, your father, or your grandfather comes, I will be the MLA of Parkal,” she said. Accusing Revanth Reddy of being “arrogant,” she said: “Who is he to decide by ticket?”