Telangana CM Revanth Reddy drops Konda Surekha from Cabinet over indiscipline
Synopsis
The Congress high command moved swiftly on Thursday, directing Telangana CM Revanth Reddy to sack minister Konda Surekha after her daughter's public attacks on the Chief Minister triggered a disciplinary crisis. The removal — backed by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi — also swept out Planning Board vice chairman Chinna Reddy, signalling that the party will not tolerate public dissent in a state it won less than a year ago.
Key Takeaways
Revanth Reddy dropped Konda Surekha from the Cabinet on 3 September with immediate effect.
The Congress high command, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi , backed the action after the party's Disciplinary Committee recommended strong action.
Chinna Reddy was simultaneously removed as Vice Chairman of the Telangana Planning Board ; Gadwal Vijayalakshmi has been appointed in his place.
The crisis was triggered by public remarks by Surekha's daughter Sushmitha against Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
Surekha contested the show-cause notice, arguing she could not be held responsible for her daughter's views and citing unequal treatment of backward-class ministers.
New appointments include Nerella Sharada as Chairperson of the Telangana State Commission for Women and G.
Sudha Rani as Chairperson of KUDA .
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday, 3 September removed Forest, Environment, and Endowment Minister Konda Surekha from the state Cabinet with immediate effect, following a directive from the Indian National Congress (INC) high command over indiscipline. A formal recommendation has been dispatched to the Governor of Telangana, according to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office.
Key Developments
Alongside Surekha's removal, the Chief Minister rescinded the appointment of Dr G. Chinna Reddy as Vice Chairman of the Telangana Planning Board, also citing indiscipline. Gadwal Vijayalakshmi has been named in his place. Government orders formalising both the removal and the new appointments have been issued.
Additionally, Revanth Reddy approved the appointment of Nerella Sharada as Chairperson of the Telangana State Commission for Women, and former Rajya Sabha member G. Sudha Rani as Chairperson of the Kakatiya Urban Development Authority (KUDA).
What the High Command Decided
The Congress Disciplinary Committee in Telangana had recommended strong action against both Konda Surekha and Chinna Reddy. The decisive call came after Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal met senior leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, capping a series of consultations with the state leadership over three days.
On Wednesday, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Surekha, and state Congress president Mahesh Kumar Goud had separate meetings with party President Mallikarjun Kharge. Revanth Reddy and Goud also met Venugopal separately. Surekha had also met AICC in-charge Meenakshi Natrajan, after which she told reporters she had conveyed what she wished to party leaders.
The Remarks That Triggered the Row
The crisis stemmed from public outbursts by Surekha's daughter Sushmitha against Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. When a show-cause notice was issued to Surekha, she publicly contested it, stating she could not be held responsible for her daughter's personal views.
Surekha also raised the issue of social equity, asserting that as a member of a backward class, she should not face different standards than other Cabinet ministers. 'What action will be taken against them,' she asked, referring to colleagues from other social groups who, she claimed, faced more serious allegations. She maintained that her ministerial performance was clean and that no corruption charges had been levelled against her.
What Happens Next
The Cabinet reshuffle and accompanying appointments signal a firm consolidation of authority by Revanth Reddy, backed by the Congress high command. The Telangana government is expected to announce portfolio reallocations in the coming days. How the party manages the fallout — particularly Surekha's caste-equity argument — will be closely watched ahead of upcoming local body elections in the state.
Point of View
A state it cannot afford to mismanage after a hard-fought 2023 victory. Yet the episode surfaces a deeper tension: Surekha's invocation of backward-class identity is not easily dismissed, and sacking her without addressing the underlying grievance could harden caste fault lines within the state unit. The high command's decision to act decisively protects Revanth Reddy's authority in the short term, but the party's handling of the caste-equity argument will define whether this is a resolved crisis or a deferred one.
NationPress
3 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Konda Surekha removed from the Telangana Cabinet?
Konda Surekha was removed from the Telangana Cabinet on 3 September after the Congress Disciplinary Committee recommended strong action against her for indiscipline. The immediate trigger was her daughter Sushmitha's public outbursts against Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, and Surekha's own public challenge to the show-cause notice issued to her.
Who authorised the removal of Konda Surekha?
The removal was directed by the Congress high command following a meeting between General Secretary K.C. Venugopal and senior leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi on Thursday. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy then formally recommended the dismissal to the Telangana Governor.
Who else was removed alongside Konda Surekha?
Dr G. Chinna Reddy was simultaneously removed as Vice Chairman of the Telangana Planning Board, also on grounds of indiscipline. Gadwal Vijayalakshmi has been appointed to replace him.
What was Konda Surekha's response to the action against her?
Surekha contested the show-cause notice, saying she could not be held responsible for her daughter's personal views. She also argued that as a backward-class minister with a clean record, she was being held to a different standard than colleagues from other social groups who faced more serious allegations.
What new appointments were made alongside these removals?
Nerella Sharada was appointed Chairperson of the Telangana State Commission for Women, and former Rajya Sabha member G. Sudha Rani was appointed Chairperson of the Kakatiya Urban Development Authority (KUDA). Government orders for all changes have been issued.
