Telangana endowments and forests minister Konda Surekha on Wednesday refused to step down from her post and challenged the Congress high command to sack her, if it decides to do so, for allegedly violating the party discipline.
She made it clear that she was prepared to face any decision taken by the party leadership. “There is no question of resigning from the cabinet. So far, the high command has not asked me to resign. “My daughter is an independent person. She got married and is now the daughter-in-law of another family. She has the right to speak about her own life. She maintained that she had been performing well as a minister and had no corruption allegations whatsoever against her. The minister claimed that some people within the party had been made to level allegations against her. She argued that those who had levelled allegations against her should also be issued show-cause notices and subjected to disciplinary action. “I have explained everything that I had to tell the Congress high command. Surekha further questioned why action was being considered against her before action was taken against the chief minister.
Because of the pressure being exerted by Revanth Reddy, let it do so,” she said, if the high command wants to dismiss me.
A party leader familiar with the development said Revanth Reddy insisted on taking a firm action against Surekha and also former minister G Chinna Reddy, who also made serious comments against him and the party. The minister said she had requested the party leadership not to hold her responsible for statements made independently by her daughter. Her life is her choice, just as my political life and that of my husband are our choices,” Surekha said. She said she wanted to continue in office and had conveyed the same request to the party high command. She said she knew who was behind the allegations but declined to name them, saying that doing so could create another controversy. The party leaders said they would consider the matter. I have also explained my position to AICC general secretary in-charge of Telangana Meenakshi Natarajan, who said she would convey it to the high command,” she said. “If action has to be taken against me, action should first be taken against the chief minister,” she said, while questioning Revanth Reddy’s reported assertion that he would remain chief minister for 10 years.
Earlier in the day, the chief minister met the party top leaders and discussed the latest situation in the state Congress.
