High drama at Konda Surekha’s residence exposes infighting over Medaram contracts

Tensions surfaced at Konda Surekha’s Hyderabad residence as her daughter alleged Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy interfered with Rs.71 crore Medaram Jathara tenders. The episode exposes growing infighting and allegations of corruption among Congress Ministers in Telangana.

Hyderabad: The high drama at Forest and Endowments Minister Konda Surekha’s residence in Hyderabad on Wednesday night laid bare the growing infighting among Congress Ministers, exposing how competition for government contracts and commissions has become a key trigger for clashes within the ruling party.

While allegations of rampant corruption in the Congress government had surfaced earlier, the latest episode has added fresh weight to such charges.

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When the police reached Surekha’s residence to reportedly arrest her On Special Duty (OSD) officer, her daughter Konda Sushmitha made a series of startling revelations. She alleged that the entire controversy was linked to tenders worth Rs.71 crore floated for the upcoming Medaram Jathara.

Sushmitha said that despite the Medaram Jathara being under the Endowments Department’s purview, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy had interfered in the process. “Our people had also filed bids in the tenders. When the bids were opened, they were bagged by our people. However, Ponguleti called my mother over the phone and asked our people to withdraw the bids. Why will they withdraw?” she said in a video that has since gone viral on social media.

According to her, the tenders were later transferred from the Endowments Department to the Revenue Department and recalled, deepening tensions between the two Ministers.

Surekha is said to have taken serious objection to Ponguleti’s interference, alleging that key decisions and discussions were being held with officials of her department without her knowledge. She lodged a complaint with the party leadership, pointing out that the Medaram Jathara was entirely an Endowments Department affair and that allotting works without her consent was ‘uncalled for’.

Ponguleti, however, dismissed the allegations, remarking that he had no reason to concern himself with what he termed “petty tenders” worth Rs.71 crore. When he convened a review meeting on the Jathara, Panchayat Raj Minister D Anasuya attended, but Surekha skipped the session, further highlighting the rift.

The episode has once again put the spotlight on the growing allegations of corruption in the government. Contractors had earlier complained that government officials demand 20 to 30 per cent commission to clear pending bills, while politicians have alleged the collection of an ‘RRR tax’ from college managements. They had also staged protests inside the Secretariat against the “commission governance”.

In the past, complaints had also surfaced about demands of Rs.75 per square foot for approving building permissions.