Surekha says no to recall, demands Revanth explain cabinet removal | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: Former endowments minister Konda Surekha on Thursday said she would not seek a recall of the Congress high command’s decision to remove her from the cabinet, but demanded that the AICC and Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy explain why she was removed without being given an opportunity to respond.Surekha alleged that the high command was initially not inclined to remove her, but that Revanth pressured it into taking the decision. She termed the action an act of political vendetta and said no one had asked her to resign before the decision was taken. She also questioned why she was not informed in advance and why the communication announcing her removal was issued without a signature.She maintained that she had committed no corruption and had responded to the show-cause notices served on her. Defending her daughter Konda Sushmitha Patel, Surekha said her daughter was an adult and that her personal views could not be attributed to her. She questioned why she should be held responsible for comments made by a family member.Surekha also questioned the action taken against Congress leaders Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy, T Jagga Reddy and Mallu Ravi when they made controversial remarks. She pointed out that leaders who had made such statements continued in the party and held positions.She alleged that ministers Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy and Vem Narender Reddy were conspiring against her. She also questioned the removal of veteran Congress leader G Chinna Reddy from the Planning Board, calling it unfair to act against him because the party wanted to proceed against her.Surekha said she had not yet decided on her political future but had no problem continuing in the Congress. She said she would continue working in her constituency and added that she and her husband, Konda Murali, had come from a humble background, grown with the support of the people and would continue to work for them.She claimed that several MLAs and ministers were also feeling suffocated within the Congress but were not speaking out. She urged them to voice their concerns openly and suggested that the government conduct a survey, claiming that the Congress was facing opposition at the grassroots level.Surekha also raised the issue involving her former OSD Sumanth, alleging that he was removed without informing her and that police later came to her residence with the intention of arresting him.Referring to her daughter’s political ambitions, Surekha said Sushmitha had been seeking a party ticket for nearly 10 years. She cited the example of Kadiyam Srihari’s daughter becoming an MP. She also referred to former TPCC chief D Srinivas’s family, saying there were “two parties” in his house, an apparent reference to his sons D Arvind and D Sanjay being associated with the BJP and Congress respectively.Surekha said she was happy that three BC women had been given key positions in the latest appointments.