OSD fiasco: Telangana Forest Minister Konda Surekha relents; apologizes for her daughter’s behavour

Hyderabad: Telangana Cabinet meeting on October 22 was full of drama and political fireworks. Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao created a flutter by claiming that senior IAS officer SAM Rizvi has applied for voluntary retirement because he landed a Rs 10 lakh job at AIG Hospital.

Telangana Forest Minister Konda Surekha, who was at the center of the storm, finally relented and apologized to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.

Sitting next to Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Konda Surekha apologized for her daughter's behaviour. Calling Congress her family, she said like any family, there will be misunderstandings.

“I am sorry for my daughter’s behaviour. The presence of cops at our home somewhat triggered her outbursts,” she said.

Responding to BRS’ attack, she said its working president, K T Rama Rao, should first love his sister (K Kavitha).

It is pertinent to recall that task force officials visited the residence of Konda Surekha in search of her OSD, N Sumanth. This led to a clash between her daughter, Sushmita, and the police. Media personnel were also called to the minister’s residence. Sushmita addressed the media and leveled serious allegations, which embarrassed the party. Later, the videos went viral. The issue caused a lot of damage to the Congress party and the government at a time when the electoral battle is round the corner, sources said.

Konda couple warned

All India Congress Committee (AICC) warned Forest Minister Konda Surekha and her husband Konda Murali against making controversial statements against the party over the removal of her Officer on Special Duty (OSD) N Sumanth.

The party asked the couple to restrain their daughter, Konda Sushmita Patel, from speaking against Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, his advisor, and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy.

Diwali meet

Telangana Pradesh Congress committee president Mahesh Kumar Goud, along with deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka, Konda Surekha, and her husband Konda Murali, met Revanth Reddy during Diwali.

It is learnt that Konda Surekha was told that her daughter Sushmita’s diatribe against the chief minister and other ministers from the ‘Reddy’ community had hurt the party.

Sources said Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Mahesh Kumar Goud told them that the party and government have been embarrassed by the media outburst.

“They have asked the couple and their daughter to refrain from making any statements in public. The minister has also been asked to keep a distance from her OSD,” said sources.

Jubilee Hills byelection

Sources said the minister was told in no uncertain terms that the Jubilee Hills by-election is very important for the party. She was also reminded of Congress’s stand on backward classes, explained sources.

“The Jubliee Hills poll is important for the Congress party. The presence of Congress in Hyderabad will be tested in Jubilee Hills. For that reason, the minister has been asked to discuss issues within the organisation,” sources said.