Meenakshi Natarajan decided to constitute a disciplinary committee comprising leaders from other districts to defuse the crisis before it spirals out of control.
Published Jun 23, 2025 | 6:41 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 23, 2025 | 6:41 PM
Meenakshi Natarajan. (X)
Synopsis: Konda Murali’s perceived uncharitable and unwarranted comments against party MLAs have sparked a controversy in Warangal Congress, with the legislators feeling that his family, including his wife and minister Konda Surekha, is trying to sideline them. The party leadership, meanwhile, stressed the need for teamwork.
The internal strife within the Congress in Telangana’s Warangal district continues to rage, with a section of MLAs complaining to the party leadership against Endowments Minister Konda Surekha and her husband, former MLC Konda Murali.
Murali’s “uncharitable and unwarranted” comments ignited the political storm which has been waiting to happen for a long time. The controversy erupted during Rahul Gandhi’s birthday celebrations on 19 June, driving the wedge further deep between the two factions in the district.
After the MLAs humiliated by Murali’s comments lodged a strong protest with AICC Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, she decided to constitute a disciplinary committee comprising leaders from other districts to defuse the crisis before it spirals out of control.
Murali, addressing party workers in Warangal East, targeted several Congress MLAs, particularly Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari and Parkal MLA Revuri Prakash Reddy.
He accused them of betraying their former parties—BRS and BJP, respectively—by joining the Congress. Murali alleged that Srihari had ditched TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu and BRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao, even though they had taken good care of him.
Murali challenged Srihari and other “turncoat” MLAs to resign and seek a fresh mandate to prove their legitimacy. “If they believe they command respect, they should resign and face the people again,” he declared.
The minister’s husband also targeted Prakash Reddy, saying the latter had “touched his feet” to secure election support, implying Reddy owed his position to the Konda family. In a bold move, Murali announced that his daughter, Sushmitha Patel, would contest the next Assembly election from Parkal, currently represented by Prakash Reddy, signalling a direct challenge to the MLA.
These comments, perceived as humiliating, sparked outrage among the MLAs and their supporters. It escalated tensions within the Warangal Congress, a key stronghold where the party won 10 of 12 seats in the 2023 Assembly polls.
The situation worsened when Surekha clashed with Warangal West MLA Naini Rajender Reddy over her proposal to introduce the Bonalu tradition at Warangal’s Bhadrakali Temple on 22 June. Rajender Reddy vehemently opposed the move, arguing it violated Agama Shastra and raised concerns about potential animal sacrifices during the festival.
Facing strong resistance, Surekha was forced to postpone the event, further straining the relations.
The anti-Konda faction, including MLAs Kadiyam Srihari, Naini Rajender Reddy, Revuri Prakash Reddy, Gandra Satyanarayana Rao, KR Nagaraj, and MLC Baswaraju Saraiah, convened an emergency meeting at Rajender Reddy’s residence in Hanamkonda on 20 June.
They accused the Konda couple of attempting to dominate Warangal’s Congress politics, marginalising other leaders, and damaging the party’s unity. The group formally complained to Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president B Mahesh Kumar Goud, who sought a detailed report from the Warangal District Congress Committee (DCC) president.
Determined to escalate the matter, the leaders travelled to Hyderabad once again on Sunday, 22 June, and met Natarajan. They alleged that the Konda couple’s actions, including Murali’s inflammatory remarks and Surekha’s interference in their constituencies, were undermining their authority and fostering factionalism.
“It’s time for the party to choose between us and the Konda couple,” they told Natarajan, warning that unchecked hostility could jeopardise Congress’s prospects in upcoming local body and MLC elections.
Natarajan, taking a serious view of the escalating feud, expressed concern over reports of party activists resorting to street brawls in Warangal. She warned against such practices, stating such acts would tarnish the party’s image, which the high command would not tolerate.
To address the crisis, she entrusted the newly appointed Disciplinary Action Committee chairman, Mallu Ravi, with inquiring into the issue. Sources said Natarajan plans to constitute a committee comprising leaders from districts other than Warangal to ensure impartiality and facilitate a swift rapprochement between the warring factions.
“They must work together as a team,” she emphasised, urging both sides to keep in mind that unity among leaders was essential for the party to move forward.
As the TPCC prepares for Political Affairs Committee and Advisory Committee meetings on Tuesday, 24 June, the Warangal feud is expected to dominate discussions. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and other senior leaders are expected to attend the meeting.
The Disciplinary Action Committee’s findings are likely to decide steps to put Warangal’s house in order, with calls for action against those crossing party lines growing louder. Meanwhile, the MLAs have urged the leadership to expedite the appointment of constituency-wise observers to monitor local dynamics and curb factionalism.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
