Konda Surekha stands by Sumanth as political storm continues to shake Congress in Telangana

Endowments Minister Konda Surekha stands by former OSD N Sumanth after police visit her residence following his termination over alleged extortion. Her daughter Sushmitha accuses senior Congress leaders of targeting the family, intensifying Telangana political tensions.

Hyderabad: The political crisis in the Congress after the arrival of police at Endowments Minister Konda Surekha’s residence late on Wednesday is continuing, with the Konda family standing firm while shielding former Officer on Special Duty (OSD) N Sumanth.

The episode followed the State government’s orders on Tuesday terminating Sumanth’s services as the Minister’s OSD. Apart from handling the Endowments portfolio, Konda Surekha also oversees Forest, Science and Technology, under which Sumanth was appointed as OSD in the Pollution Control Board and deputed to the Forest Minister’s peshi.

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Though his contract was valid till December 16 this year, Sumanth’s service was terminated on October 14. While no official reason was cited, reports suggest his alleged involvement in extortion and demands for money from a few cement factories in the erstwhile Nalgonda district. The issue reportedly reached a senior Minister from the district, who then brought it to the government’s notice.

Following this, police arrived at Konda Surekha’s residence in large numbers. In a video circulating on social media, Surekha was seen confronting the police, shielding Sumanth, and driving him away in her car even as police stood by.

Speaking to the media, Surekha said, “Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy filed an extortion complaint against Sumanth.”

Defending the former OSD, the Minister’s daughter Konda Sushmitha alleged that the Deccan Cements issue surfaced after Rohin Reddy, a close aide of the Chief Minister, met Sumanth and discussed the matter in his office.

“They even spoke to the Deccan Cements management and it is not called threatening. If it is extortion, then Rohin Reddy and the Chief Minister should also be involved,” Sushmitha said in a video that has gone viral.

She accused Government Advisor Vem Narender Reddy, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari, and others of deliberately targeting her mother and family. Sushmitha further alleged that Vem Narender, who had earlier contested from Warangal East and lost, was attempting to gain control over the constituency.

“The phone call data of Deccan Cements, Rohin Reddy and Sumanth should be checked and all the details should be made public,” she demanded, appealing to supporters to condemn the government and police action and extend their solidarity.