HYDERABAD: Amid the controversy over her daughter’s remarks and speculation over her possible removal from the state Cabinet, Forest and Endowments Minister Konda Surekha met AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge in Bengaluru on Sunday, sources said. The meeting was facilitated through former AICC in-charge of Telangana Deepa Dasmunsi, they added.
The meeting assumes significance amid growing criticism of Surekha by Congress MLAs and leaders over the developments. Around 20 Congress MLAs and MLCs have publicly sought tough action, with some demanding her removal from the Cabinet. Meanwhile, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is scheduled to return to Hyderabad from London on Monday morning.
Surekha has already informed the party’s disciplinary committee that she had no connection with the controversial remarks made by her daughter, Konda Sushmitha, against the chief minister. She also told the committee that it was painful to see party MLAs and leaders making allegations against her, particularly as she was a woman leader belonging to the BC community. She alleged that some “invisible forces” were provoking MLAs and other party leaders to make statements against her.
The disciplinary committee reviewed Surekha’s reply on Saturday but deferred a decision, saying it would meet again. Sources said Surekha told Kharge that some party leaders and MLAs were deliberately targeting her as part of a conspiracy. She is also understood to have briefed the Congress president on the developments within the party and discussed her political future with him.