Revanth Reddy declines comment on Konda Surekha controversy

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy declined to comment on the controversy involving Minister Konda Surekha and her daughter Sushmitha, saying the Congress high command’s decision would be final. He also asked party leaders to avoid discussing internal matters publicly.

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday declined to comment on the controversy involving Forest Minister Konda Surekha and her daughter Sushmitha, saying the party high command’s decision would be final.

He also appealed to party leaders not to raise speculative issues in public. The issue was already being handled by the TPCC Disciplinary Committee, he said, stressing the importance of discipline in the party.

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“Irrespective of their rank and position, all leaders have to abide by the party high command’s decision,” Revanth Reddy said at a press conference here.

The Chief Minister said he would not comment on internal party matters before the media. “If there are any issues, they should be discussed internally in the party,” he said, adding that action would be taken based on the Disciplinary Committee’s report.

Later, the Chief Minister held a meeting with a few Ministers and MLAs at the Secretariat to discuss various issues. Interestingly, he is learnt to have instructed the MLAs not to make further comments or demands in the media over the controversy involving the Forest Minister and her daughter.

This comes after 18 MLAs held a press conference at the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) office on Friday and demanded stern action against the Minister.

Before flying back to Hyderabad from the UK, the Chief Minister had also announced that he would speak extensively on all issues.

Konda’s meeting with Kharge

It may be recalled that the Forest Minister had met AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge in Bengaluru on Sunday. Though the meeting’s outcome has not been known, the Chief Minister’s comments at the press conference and the reported instructions to the MLAs later, party leaders believe the high command may take its time to decide on the issue and may not be influenced by the pressure exerted by a section of leaders.

Zoom meeting

Meanwhile, AICC in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan and TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud held a Zoom meeting with party leaders on the SIR.

The Chief Minister, however, held a separate meeting with a few MLAs and Ministers at the Secretariat despite being in the city.