Ministerial Clash: Konda Surekha upset with Vivek, complains to CMO

Forest Minister Konda Surekha has raised objections after Labour Minister Vivek Venkatswamy met forest officials without her knowledge. She has taken the matter to the CMO and is expected to meet CM Revanth Reddy amid simmering tensions between the two Ministers.

Hyderabad: Forest Minister Konda Surekha is upset with Labour Minister Vivek Venkatswamy for convening a meeting with forest officials without her knowledge or consent. She has taken up the matter with the Chief Minister’s Office, seeking corrective measures.

On Thursday evening, Vivek held a meeting with forest officials in his Secretariat chambers, where issues relating to podu lands and forest clearances for road works in his constituency, Chennur, were discussed. Mancherial District Collector Kumar Deepak and senior forest officials were present.

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The development, however, did not go down well with the Forest Minister. Officials from her office noted that since matters directly concerning her department were discussed, she should have at least been informed or invited.

“Madam has taken the issue seriously and immediately raised it with the Chief Minister’s Office. She is likely to meet Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy personally after he returns from New Delhi,” an official from her peshi said.

Ties between the two Ministers have not been cordial for some time. Soon after Vivek was inducted into the Cabinet in June, he was appointed as Incharge Minister for Medak, replacing Konda Surekha. Though she had not publicly objected, her supporters expressed displeasure that Vivek had not even paid her a courtesy visit after assuming charge.