Konda Surekha Blames Daughter’s Outburst for Her Removal from Telangana Cabinet

When the news broke that Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy had reshuffled his cabinet, the name that seemed to surprise most was Konda Surekha’s. The veteran Congress MLA was shown the door with immediate effect, a move she says was not of her own making.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Surekha was emphatic: she took no part in any criticism of the chief minister, and she certainly didn’t pen the remarks that caused the stir. “I am not at all at fault,” she told the press. “The show‑cause notice was issued to me, but I never levelled any allegation against Revanth Reddy or the party.” She went on to explain that it was her daughter, Sushmitha, who had spoken out at a rally in Parkal, venting frustration over the selection of a Congress candidate for the assembly seat.

According to Surekha, the daughter’s outburst was a solitary act, unrelated to her mother’s duties. “My daughter said something about the chief minister over an MLA candidate. I had no idea what she wanted to say,” she added, her tone mixing irritation with a hint of bewilderment.

The timing, however, was uncanny. Just days earlier, Revanth Reddy announced a “major administrative and political reshuffle,” and Surekha’s name appeared on the list of ministers to be removed. The recommendation was quickly sent to the Governor for formal approval, sealing her exit from the council of ministers.

Surekha tried to put the loss into perspective. “A ministerial post is only an ornament,” she said, smiling wryly. “I have no sorrow over losing it because my strength lies in the people’s support, not in a title.” She warned that the same fate could befall any other minister, hinting at a broader discontent within the current administration.

She also hinted at internal politics within the Congress party. While she claims the All India Congress Committee (AICC) did not want her removed, she alleges that the chief minister personally pressed for her dismissal. “If they had consulted me first, I could have asked why,” she lamented. “I was taken out without even a chance to give my side.”

Despite the drama, Surekha reaffirmed her commitment to the party. “I will remain a Congress MLA and work for the development of my constituency,” she declared, adding that she had refrained from publicly rebuking her daughter out of respect for family ties.

The controversy centers on the Parkal Assembly constituency, where Revanth Reddy recently endorsed sitting MLA Revuri Prakash Reddy for the next election. Sushmitha, in a bold move, questioned the chief minister’s influence over candidate selection and even hinted at contesting the seat herself if the Congress ticket was denied. Her remarks, made in a public forum, appear to have set off a chain reaction that culminated in her mother’s removal.

While the cabinet reshuffle may have been part of a broader political strategy, the episode underscores how personal statements—especially from family members—can ripple through the highest echelons of power. For Surekha, the loss of a ministerial portfolio is a setback, but she insists it will not diminish her resolve to serve her voters.