Hyderabad, September 3 (H.S.). Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday recommended the removal of Endowments Minister Konda Surekha from the State Cabinet amid an ongoing disciplinary controversy within the ruling Congress.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office, a recommendation to this effect has been sent to Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla.

The development follows a political and disciplinary row involving Surekha and her daughter Konda Sushmita Patel, whose remarks against Revanth Reddy and other Congress leaders triggered controversy within the party.

The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) disciplinary committee had issued a notice to Surekha and sought her explanation over the issue. In her reply, Surekha maintained that she should not be held responsible for personal comments made by her daughter and argued that seeking an explanation from her was contrary to the principles of natural justice.

Surekha met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi on September 2 and presented her side of the matter.

Sushmita Patel had announced that she would seek to contest the next Assembly election from Parkal and said she would contest as an independent if she was denied a Congress ticket. She had also made remarks questioning the Chief Minister’s statements concerning the constituency and the selection of candidates.

The political controversy subsequently widened, with Surekha questioning whether action should also be considered against other Congress leaders whose remarks, according to her, had been critical of her and her family.

In a separate development, the Chief Minister rescinded with immediate effect the appointment of G. Chinna Reddy as Vice Chairman of the Telangana Planning Board.

Former Hyderabad Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi has been appointed as the new Vice Chairman. Nerella Sharada has been appointed Chairperson of the Telangana State Commission for Women in place of Vijayalakshmi.

Chinna Reddy had also faced disciplinary scrutiny over remarks concerning party leadership and Wanaparthy MLA T. Megha Reddy. The TPCC disciplinary committee had submitted its report to TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud on August 25 and recommended strict action against the leaders concerned.

Meanwhile, reacting to the developments, Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy said the Congress high command’s decision would be final in the matter concerning Surekha.

“The high command’s decision will be final in the matter concerning Konda Surekha,” he said, adding that the party leadership would decide who would be retained in the Cabinet.

Surekha, in a statement after the decision, said she condemned her dismissal and questioned why her explanation had not been sought before the decision was taken.

She maintained that she could not be held responsible for her daughter’s comments and said her daughter was an independent woman whose views were her own.

Surekha also questioned what action had been taken over remarks allegedly made by other Congress leaders and said she had not yet decided her future course of political action.

The Governor’s decision on the recommendation will determine the formal completion of the process.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar