HYDERABAD: For Endowments Minister Konda Surekha, the controversy over her daughter Sushmita Patel’s remarks against Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has opened a difficult chapter. But within the Congress, two AICC general secretaries, two ministers and a top leader have urged the party high command to exercise caution before taking any action against her, including dropping her from the Cabinet.
One of the AICC general secretaries, who had earlier served as Telangana in-charge, is understood to have requested AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge to first consult Surekha before taking any decision. The leader had recently facilitated Surekha’s meeting with Kharge in Bengaluru, sources said.
The other AICC general secretary has reportedly opposed any severe action against Surekha, warning that removing her from the Cabinet could have political repercussions. This leader is understood to have conveyed that Surekha could resign if she is dropped, forcing a bypoll which could adversely affect the party in the state.
The intervention by the two AICC general secretaries comes at a time when the disciplinary committee’s recommendation against Surekha is being discussed within the party. Their position is not understood to be in defence of Sushmita’s remarks, which party leaders have described as condemnable, but over the manner in which action against Surekha should be handled.
The two leaders have, in effect, argued for consultation before any final decision, rather than treating the disciplinary committee’s recommendation as conclusive.
According to sources, two ministers have also conveyed their views to Kharge and AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, seeking consultation with Surekha before any decision. A senior Telangana Congress leader has separately conveyed his views on the controversy to Venugopal and other AICC leaders by email.
Cong trying to avoid larger confrontation?
The correspondence and lobbying have since become a subject of discussion among ministers and MLAs, with the debate shifting from whether action should be taken against Surekha to what form it should take.
The two ministers, one from a Backward Community and the other from a Forward Community, are understood to have drawn attention to the political implications of removing Surekha. She belongs to the Padmashali community, while her husband Konda Murali belongs to the Munnuru Kapu community. Both are BC communities with a sizeable presence in Telangana.
The ministers have reportedly told the high command that Sushmita’s remarks warranted action, while pointing out that she is not a party member. They are also understood to have said that Surekha should have publicly condemned her daughter’s remarks. Sources said she had not done so, and that this could be addressed separately from the question of her continuation in the Cabinet.
One suggestion is to change Surekha’s portfolios rather than remove her from the Cabinet. This, the argument goes, would allow the party to register its displeasure without turning the episode into a larger confrontation.
A senior party leader holding a prominent position said there was nothing improper about ministers putting forward their views, particularly when Cabinet removal could have wider political consequences. Changing portfolios, the leader said, would itself amount to action.
The intervention also comes against the backdrop of the Congress government’s political investment in its BC agenda, including the BC census undertaken in Telangana as part of the promise made by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.
Some leaders therefore see the handling of a woman BC leader who had earlier served as a minister and returned to the Congress ahead of the Assembly elections as requiring political caution.
The senior Telangana leader who approached the high command is understood to have argued that the party should consult senior leaders before taking a decision, partly to prevent the episode from unsettling the confidence the Congress has sought to build among BC communities.
Action after consultations, assessment of political fallout
The underlying message from those backing Surekha is one of consultation rather than resistance to disciplinary action.
If action is necessary, they are understood to have told the high command, it should follow consultations and an assessment of the political fallout.
Yet another view within the party is that the high command may ultimately give Revanth a free hand in reshuffling the Cabinet.
Party leaders say the chief minister is focused on consolidating the government and preparing for the next Assembly election, and would not want his authority constrained by competing demands.
That is where the Surekha episode acquires a wider political meaning. For some in the Congress, the disciplinary recommendation is not merely about one minister. Any move to put it on hold or dilute it could be seen as a setback to Revanth’s authority within the State unit.
Conversely, acting on the recommendation would send a clear message that Revanth has the political backing to deal with disputes involving his own colleagues and senior leaders.
For now, the intervention from the AICC general secretaries, coupled with the support from ministers and other senior leaders, has given Surekha room to negotiate her position.
The immediate question is whether the high command will favour consultation and a calibrated response, or allow the state leadership to proceed with stronger action.
