Published Sep 03, 2026 | 7:24 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 03, 2026 | 7:24 PM
Konda Surekha speaking to the media at her official residence after dismissal from State Cabinet (Screengrab)
Synopsis: Barely hours after she was sacked from the Revanth Reddy Cabinet, Konda Surekha said the chief minister had ‘blackmailed’ the Congress High Command by threatening to quit his position if she was not sacked. She accused the chief minister’s brothers, Kondal Reddy and Tirupati Reddy, Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, and MP Vem Narendar Reddy of conspiring against her and her former Officer on Special Duty, N Sumanth.
Hours after being dropped from the Telangana Cabinet on Thursday, 3 September, senior Congress leader Konda Surekha hit back at the party leadership, alleging she was removed without being consulted or given a chance to explain herself.
The dismissal ended weeks of tension that began on 19 August, when Surekha’s daughter, Konda Sushmita, hit out at Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy during her mother’s birthday gathering in Geesugonda, Warangal.
Surekha held a media conference at her official residence after the dismissal order was issued. She said she had already submitted her explanation to AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge and other senior leaders in Delhi earlier in the week. She questioned why she was removed without being heard.
“Even a person facing execution is granted a final wish,” she said, arguing she wasn’t given a similar courtesy.
“Had they asked me to resign, I would have had the chance to question them. They did not give me that opportunity. Without any fault of mine, they sacked me without even mentioning the reason. It was very hurtful, and I condemn this move,” she said.
Surekha recalled instances of senior Congress leaders such as the late K Rosaiah and S Jaipal Reddy openly critiquing the then national leadership. She questioned why they had never faced any consequences.
The former minister said the chief minister had ‘blackmailed’ the Congress High Command by threatening to quit his position if she was not sacked. She accused the chief minister’s brothers, Kondal Reddy and Tirupati Reddy, Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, and MP Vem Narendar Reddy of conspiring against her and her former Officer on Special Duty N Sumanth.
Sumanth is currently facing criminal extortion charges.
“The ministerial post is merely an ornament to me,” she told the media and added that losing it caused her no personal distress. She said she was glad her removal paved the way for three major appointments of women from the Backward Classes.
Also Read: Revanth Reddy sacks Konda Surekha from Cabinet
Surekha highlighted what she saw as major issues plaguing the Revanth Reddy administration and called on other ministers and MLAs to speak out before it was too late. She said many ministers and MLAs were privately unhappy with the government’s functioning but were reluctant to say so.
“What happened to me today will happen to you tomorrow. So at least now, please come out. Share the issues you have and struggles you have been facing in the current administration. You know you can’t serve the people. That’s why all of you need to talk about it publicly,” she said.
She pointed to the administration’s rigid functioning and alleged that it was an arduous task to get appointments with higher-ups. As a result, several of her petitions and work were pending approval, she said, and added that even when projects were approved, they were stalled before implementation.
Surekha said several public representatives have faced a similar situation and called on the leadership to take note of the growing public unrest.
“This is the stage the people’s representatives are in. If the government doesn’t fix this, it will face severe problems in the future,” Surekha argued. She said the party should conduct a ground-level survey to fully grasp the unrest building among the public over delays in implementing poll promises.
“Since we have not fulfilled our poll promises, there is a lot of opposition from the public as well. To address that, we should implement the six guarantees. That is my advice to the government,” she added.
Surekha termed the administration as a monopoly held by the chief minister.
“He shouldn’t think that he can just run a monopoly and do whatever he wants. He should not promote himself as the chief minister for the next 10 years. He should not go on stage to announce MLA candidates of his choice. There are several mistakes on his part. It seems the CM has forgotten that if he points a finger at me today, four more will point at him,” she said.
The Warangal East MLA added that she had no plans to resign from the party and would continue working for the betterment of her constituency.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
