Hyderabad: A disciplinary action against Forest and Endowments minister Konda Surekha appears imminent, with the Telangana Congress Disciplinary Committee submitting its report to TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud on Tuesday. The committee reportedly recommended strict action, stressing that no leader, irrespective of stature, should be spared if the party’s image is damaged.Several Congress MLAs, MLCs and MPs have reportedly been demanding Surekha’s removal from the cabinet, alleging that she failed to condemn comments made by her daughter, K Sushmitha, against chief minister A Revanth Reddy despite being a member of his cabinet.Although Surekha herself did not make any remarks against the party or the CM in the latest controversy, the disciplinary committee is understood to have considered previous complaints against her. Several legislators from the erstwhile Warangal district had earlier alleged that she did not consult them on development works and the constitution of committees in their constituencies.The committee is also believed to have taken note of earlier controversies involving Surekha, including her remarks against members of the Telugu film industry. The latest episode followed adverse comments made by her daughter when police arrived at the minister’s residence to arrest her OSD.Disciplinary committee chairperson Mallu Ravi and vice-chairperson A Shyam Mohan said the report concerning Konda Surekha and Planning Board vice-chairperson G Chinna Reddy had been submitted to the TPCC chief. The report will be forwarded to AICC in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, AICC general secretary KC Venugopal and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.“The AICC will take a final call on the action to be taken,” Mallu Ravi said.Sources in the AICC told TOI that the Congress high command faces a difficult decision, considering Surekha’s political influence and social background.“The AICC has the option of asking the minister to gracefully quit the cabinet, dropping her in the reshuffle or asking her to tender an open apology with a strong final warning. But before taking a decision, the AICC will weigh the Konda Surekha family’s influence in two to three constituencies in Warangal district, the caste factor — as her husband is a Munnuru Kapu and she is a Padmashali (both BCs) — and the availability of a suitable replacement,” a senior AICC leader said.Among the Congress’s present women MLAs, apart from Konda Surekha (BC) and D Anasuya Seethakka (ST), are M Ragamayee (SC), N Parmavathi Reddy, Chittem Parnika Reddy and Mamidi Yashaswini Reddy. “The AICC will consult the PCC leadership on the possibility of the BJP, BRS, Jana Sena or K Kavitha’s party trying to woo one of the Congress’s top women leaders. Many factors need to be considered before taking a decision,” the AICC leader said.Shyam Mohan and Mallu Ravi told the media that the committee had recommended strict action to prevent indiscipline from damaging the party’s image and affecting its prospects in the upcoming elections. “Maintaining discipline among leaders, activists and grassroots workers is essential to strengthening the Congress and the govt,” Mallu Ravi said.TPCC working president T Jagga Reddy said: “Konda Surekha, Konda Murali and I are big leaders, but action must be taken when warranted. Senior political leaders must take responsibility for controlling their children and act when they make mistakes. They must ensure their children do not make inappropriate remarks. If my own child had spoken in such a manner, it would also have been wrong. Whether it is my child or anyone else’s, such comments are wrong, and action must be taken. As parents and leaders, we must control them and take appropriate action when necessary,” Jagga said.
