Power tussle among Congress Ministers continues; Ponguleti holds meeting without Surekha

Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy reportedly excluded Endowments Minister Konda Surekha from a Medaram development review meeting, sparking political tensions. Surekha had allegedly complained to party leadership over Srinivas Reddy’s interference in awarding a Rs 71 crore tender under her department

Mulugu: Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, in-charge of erstwhile Warangal region, continued to snub Endowments Minister Konda Surekha despite her reportedly lodging a complaint against him with party leadership over his interference in her department.

Srinivas Reddy, along with Panchayat Raj Minister Seethakka, held a review meeting on Monday regarding Medaram development works at Medaram in the district, excluding the Endowments Minister, whose department oversees the matter.

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Surekha’s absence has sparked debate among political circles in the erstwhile Warangal district. Her supporters alleged that Srinivas Reddy and Seethakka intentionally kept her away to undermine her authority. The dispute follows Surekha reportedly lodging a complaint with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, accusing Srinivas Reddy of attempting to award a Medaram work tender worth Rs 71 crore, related to the Endowments Department, to a company he controlled. Surekha’s husband and former MLC Konda Murali also reportedly wrote to AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge and brought the matter to the attention of AICC Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan over Srinivas Reddy’s alleged excessive interference in the Endowments Department.

Meanwhile, Srinivas Reddy told the media at Medaram that there was no need for him to be so desperate for a Rs 71 crore work contract. He said he did not believe that Surekha had filed a complaint against him, adding that her absence might have been due to other engagements and that the next meeting would include her. He emphasised that Medaram development works would involve Ministers Surekha, Seethakka and local legislators.