The Congress high command has summoned Telangana Forest, Environment, and Endowment Minister Konda Surekha to New Delhi amid an escalating internal party dispute triggered by her daughter's remarks against Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. Surekha departed for the national capital on Tuesday, 1 September, where she is scheduled to meet Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal and has sought an appointment with party President Mallikarjun Kharge.

Key Developments

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Mahesh Kumar Goud have also travelled to Delhi, amid reports that the high command is preparing to act against Surekha and Telangana Planning Board Vice-Chairman G. Chinna Reddy for alleged indiscipline. The TPCC Disciplinary Committee on 25 August submitted its report to state President Goud, who has since forwarded it to the top party leadership for a final decision.

The committee reportedly recommended that Surekha be dropped from the Cabinet and that Chinna Reddy be removed from his post. Both were pulled up for remarks deemed damaging to the party and its leadership.

What the Disciplinary Panel Found

The Disciplinary Panel reportedly observed that Surekha should have publicly condemned the comments made by her daughter Konda Sushmita at an event in Parkala, Warangal district, against Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. The panel also noted that this was not the first instance of Surekha violating party discipline.

In her reply to the show-cause notice, Surekha distanced herself from Sushmita's remarks, stating that she should not be held politically responsible for her daughter's personal views and urging the committee to withdraw the notice.

Chinna Reddy similarly sought withdrawal of the notice issued to him, arguing that his remarks — made during the inauguration of a mandal Congress office at Gopalpet in Wanaparthy district on 16 August — were merely an expression of long-standing grievances among party workers. He had also made remarks against Wanaparthy MLA T. Megha Reddy on the same occasion.

What the Chief Minister Said

At a press conference on 24 August, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy declined to comment publicly on the controversy, saying he would not address the party's internal matters before the media as the Disciplinary Committee was already handling the issue. He did, however, underline the importance of party discipline, stating that the high command's decision would be final and binding on all leaders.

Revanth Reddy is, according to reports, personally insisting on the removal of both Surekha and Chinna Reddy from their respective posts.

Broader Political Picture

The Delhi meetings are not confined to the Surekha matter alone. Several senior Telangana ministers — including Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, and Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar — have also converged on the capital amid reports that the Congress leadership is considering a Cabinet reshuffle and expansion and is likely to finalise names for nominated posts.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Industry and IT Minister D. Sridhar Babu were expected to leave for Delhi on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. The party leadership is set to consult key figures including AICC in-charge Meenakshi Natrajan before arriving at a final decision on the internal disputes.

With the high command now directly seized of the matter, the coming days are likely to determine both the fate of Surekha's Cabinet berth and the broader shape of the Telangana government.