Konda Surekha, until Thursday the Endowments Minister in Telangana, will not be leaving the Congress party. She was dropped from the State Cabinet following a recommendation by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, but she made it clear she intends to stay on as an MLA. "I will serve my constituency," she stated firmly, defending her position amid swirling political rumors.

Key facts

  • Konda Surekha was dropped from the Telangana Cabinet on Thursday.
  • She has written to AICC leadership alleging caste and gender bias by CM Revanth Reddy.
  • Surekha claims the Chief Minister's brothers influenced her dismissal.
  • She will continue as an MLA and remain with the Congress party.

Allegations of Bias and Marginalization

In a detailed letter addressed to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and KC Venugopal, Surekha laid out serious claims. She argued that Revanth Reddy had targeted her with both caste and gender bias, deliberately sidelining her politically and administratively.

She cited specific, hurtful instances: being excluded from decisions in her own ministry, omitted from government advertisements during Ram Navami, and even having police come to her official residence to arrest her On Special Duty officer. "I consider the incident not only an affront to my personal dignity but also a serious disregard for the dignity and status of a serving Minister," she wrote.

A Political Stand and a Family's Stance

Amid speculation that the BJP was waiting to welcome her, Surekha dismissed any notion of switching parties. She instead pointed fingers at the Chief Minister's brothers, Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Rajya Sabha member Vem Narender Reddy, alleging they were behind the move to oust her.

She also defended her daughter, Susmitha Patel, stating that she cannot be held responsible for remarks made by her child. In her letter, she repeatedly highlighted her caste background and that of her husband, Konda Murali, noting they belong to two different Backward Classes with significant vote share. She appealed to Rahul Gandhi for an impartial inquiry into her allegations, hoping for a fair hearing within the party she vows to stay with.