Telangana’s political potboiler continues to simmer, as Telangana Forest Minister Konda Surekha, was dropped from the Cabinet on Thursday, and has now accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of resorting to “blackmail politics” to secure her removal though the party high command was not in favour of it.
Amid a controversy over the remarks made against him and others by Surekha’s daughter, CM Reddy decided to drop Surekha from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect.
On her future course of action, Surekha said she will continue as an MLA. According to her, state Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Rajya Sabha member Vem Narender Reddy and CM’s brothers (only mentioning their names) were behind the “conspiracy” against her and her OSD (who faces allegations in a matter). There was no immediate response from the concerned persons. “It is painful that the chief minister took action against me out of a vindictive attitude on the basis of the critical comments made by my daughter against him and other party leaders,” Surekha contended.
A recommendation to this effect has been made to Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla. Speaking to reporters shortly after the CMO announced the decision to sack her, Surekha said she committed no wrongdoing and claimed that she was not given an opportunity to explain her position before sacking her. She termed as “painful” her removal from the council of ministers without citing any reasons. “Even a death convict is given the opportunity to express his last wish before being hanged.” “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 claimed.
She also found fault with Revanth Reddy’s claim that he would be chief minister for the next term as well. She also disapproved of the CM recently announcing that a sitting Congress MLA would be the candidate again in the next assembly election.
Asserting that she and her husband, who belong to the backward class, had risen in politics through hard work, she expressed confidence that people would continue to support them.
“The minister’s post is only like an ornament for us. Earlier, I had quit on my own. I don’t feel bad today that I lost cabinet post. But, I am not able to digest that I was removed without being informed and without giving reasons. The responsibility is on AICC and also CM to answer that,” Surekha said.
Claiming that ministers and ruling Congress MLAs are unhappy, she said they should openly voice their concerns.
She also said election promises are not being fulfilled which is leading to anti-incumbency.
Defending her daughter Sushmita whose critical comments against the Chief Minister and other leaders led to her ouster from the cabinet, Surekha said she cannot be held responsible for her daughter’s remarks.
Referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent comments on Manusmriti and patriarchy, she said her daughter spoke independently.
Asserting that she was a senior leader from the backward classes, she said the CM needs to think how far it is justified to remove her from the cabinet.
“CM Reddy takes credit for making efforts to enhance BC reservations,” she pointed out. Noting that absence of women in the Council of Ministers in Congress-ruled Karnataka has become an issue, she said her removal in Telangana would also have an impact on the AICC in Delhi.
The government needs to make course corrections to win the forthcoming municipal corporation polls and the next assembly elections in 2028, she added.
Asked about the view of several Congress MLAs that she should have condemned her daughter’s remarks as she is a member of the cabinet headed by Revanth Reddy, Surekha said condemning her daughter’s comments would amount to belittling Sushmita.
She also alleged that Revanth Reddy lacked the political communication that former Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh Y S Rajasekhara Reddy had.
To a query whether she would tie Rakhi to CM Revanth Reddy next year as she did a few days ago, Surekha replied, “Why not?”
Meanwhile, Surekha also released to media the letters written by her to top Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Kharge, KC Venugopal, AICC incharge of party affairs in Telangana Meenkashi Natarajan.
In her letter to Sonia Gandhi, Surekha alleged that CM Revanth Reddy has been “subjecting me, a BC woman minister, to suppressive measures from the beginning”.
“Several directions emanating directly from the CM’s office have resulted in a situation where my role as the minister has become largely nominal,” she said in the letter.
She sought Sonia Gandhi’s intervention and justice over what she described as the “political and administrative suppression” she was allegedly facing as a minister and senior Congress leader in Telangana.
(With PTI Inputs)