If sources in the Telangana Congress are to be believed, Forests and Endowments Minister Konda Surekha is likely to be dropped from Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s Cabinet after he returns from his UK trip on Sunday.
According to party sources, Revanth Reddy has taken a serious view of the remarks made by Surekha’s daughter, Konda Sushmita, at a meeting in Parkal in Warangal district on Wednesday.
Surekha was served a show-cause notice seeking an explanation. However, she responded by saying that she had nothing to do with her daughter’s comments and asked the disciplinary committee to withdraw the notice.
This has reportedly upset Revanth Reddy, as Surekha neither condemned her daughter’s remarks nor apologised on her behalf, as she had reportedly done on earlier occasions. Instead, she appeared to question the PCC’s decision to issue her a show-cause notice.
On Friday, apparently following directions from the Chief Minister, several Congress MLAs held a press conference condemning Surekha’s silence over her daughter’s remarks and demanding her resignation from the Cabinet.
Government Whips Beerla Ilaiah and Vemula Veeresham, along with MLAs Balu Naik, Naini Rajender Reddy and others, publicly criticised Surekha and demanded that she clarify her stand on her daughter’s comments.
The MLAs said Revanth Reddy had worked hard to bring the Congress to power and questioned why anyone within the party was targeting the Chief Minister.
“Surekha must respond to the remarks made by her daughter,” they demanded.
Vemula Veeresham said that if Surekha had nothing to do with her daughter’s comments, she should publicly condemn them.
He also criticised what he described as Surekha’s objectionable language on several occasions, alleging that similar remarks had earlier been made in connection with an actress.
Congress MLA Naini Rajender Reddy launched a strong attack on Surekha, alleging that she had a history of putting pressure on whichever political party she joined.
He questioned whether Surekha was on good terms with even a single MLA in the party and criticised her for leaving the Congress during difficult times in the past.
Surekha, however, defended herself, saying she had already submitted her response to the Congress disciplinary committee and had nothing further to say for now.
Speaking to reporters, Surekha said she would not comment on the matter through the media.
“I told the disciplinary committee yesterday whatever I had to say. There is nothing new that I need to say now. I will speak after the Chief Minister returns from his foreign tour,” she said.
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