Surekha Seeks Action Against Srihari As Row Deepens

WARANGAL: The confrontation between Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari and endowments minister Konda Surekha has escalated, with the minister taking her complaint to TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud and seeking disciplinary action against the senior Congress leader.

The dispute arose after Srihari met endowments department officials to discuss temple development works in his constituency. While Srihari maintained that the interaction was limited to constituency-related issues, Surekha termed it an unauthorised departmental review conducted without her knowledge or approval.

According to party sources, Surekha has already raised the issue with the Congress high command and Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy before approaching the TPCC chief.

Responding to Srihari’s explanation on Thursday, Surekha alleged that the MLA was trying to politically weaken her for a long time. She claimed that Srihari, a former minister and deputy chief minister, was unable to reconcile himself to the role of an MLA and was working with others to undermine her political standing.

She further alleged that Srihari, who had acknowledged his association with the former TRS, along with other Congress MLAs originally from the Telugu Desam, was deliberately targeting her. Describing his approach as a "cunning mentality", she accused him of trying to damage her reputation.

Surekha reiterated that administrative decisions, policy matters and departmental reviews fall within the minister’s jurisdiction. She alleged that Srihari’s meeting with the endowments commissioner and officials, where issues including temple development, fund allocation, master plans, protection of temple lands and removal of encroachments were discussed, violated established protocol and the Rules of Business.

Questioning whether a former minister was unaware of basic procedures, she said such actions could create confusion within the administrative system and set an unhealthy precedent.

Srihari, however, maintained that as an elected MLA he has the right to meet officials on constituency matters. He denied conducting any official review and said there was no need for further explanation as he had done nothing improper.