Published Jul 08, 2026 | 9:57 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 08, 2026 | 9:57 AM
Minister Konda Surekha and MLA Kadiyam Srihari.
Synopsis: After Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari convened a review meeting with senior officials of the Endowments Department without the knowledge or approval of Endowments and Forest Minister Konda Surekha, she wrote to the chief minister terming it a “deliberate attempt” to undermine her ministerial authority.
A fresh rift has erupted within the ruling Congress in Telangana, with Endowments and Forest Minister Konda Surekha accusing Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari of breaching official protocol by convening a review meeting with senior officials of the Endowments Department without her knowledge or approval.
In a strongly worded three-page letter to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Surekha described the incident as a “deliberate attempt” to undermine her ministerial authority and demanded disciplinary action against the veteran MLA.
She has called for an inquiry by the party’s disciplinary committee. The episode unfolded on Monday, 6 July, at the Endowments Commissioner’s Office in Hyderabad.
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According to sources, Srihari chaired a meeting with the department’s director and other senior officials, discussing issues related to temple funds, protection of endowment lands, and aspects of the Warangal Master Plan. He is said to have issued specific instructions and set deadlines for compliance. However, Surekha reportedly learnt of the meeting only the following day.
In her letter, Surekha asserted that policy decisions, administrative reviews, and directions to officials fall exclusively within the domain of the minister in charge. “Such unauthorised oversight not only violates the state government’s Rules of Business but also risks creating confusion in the executive machinery,” she reportedly wrote.
She questioned how an MLA could bypass the minister and directly issue directives on departmental matters.
This latest flare-up comes against the backdrop of simmering tensions between Surekha and a section of Congress leaders, particularly from the Warangal district.
The minister was reportedly sidelined in the recent constitution of the Yadagirigutta Devasthanam Trust Board, an omission that had already caused resentment in her camp. There have also been earlier complaints from some MLAs about alleged interference in their constituencies.
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Kadiyam Srihari, a former deputy chief minister who joined the Congress along with his daughter Kavya ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, represents a significant Dalit face of the party from the region. He has been active in addressing local issues concerning temples and endowments in his constituency.
Party sources indicated that the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) is likely to seek explanations from both sides to contain the public display of differences. The Congress high command is said to be monitoring the situation closely, given the potential to unsettle the party’s unity ahead of future electoral battles.
This is not the first instance of internal discord in the Telangana Congress. Observers note that such episodes highlight the challenges of accommodating influential leaders and MLAs from diverse backgrounds within a single ruling dispensation. Administrative protocol and the chain of command in government departments have emerged as flashpoints in the ongoing power dynamics.
As of now, neither Srihari nor the chief minister has issued any public statement on the matter. The developments have triggered speculation in political circles about possible interventions to resolve the row and reinforce ministerial authority while addressing the concerns of MLAs on local developmental issues.
The incident underscores the delicate balance required in coalition-style governance even within a single party, where overlapping spheres of influence between ministers and legislators can lead to friction. Political observers are keenly watching how the leadership addresses this for signals on the party’s internal management style.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
