Congress Panel Recommends Action against Konda Surekha, Chinna Reddy
It recommended the removal of Surekha as the Minister and Chinna Reddy as State Planning Board vice-chairman
Hyderabad: The TPCC disciplinary committee has recommended stringent action against minister Konda Surekha and senior Congress leader G. Chinna Reddy for making “anti-Chief Minister” and “anti-Congress” remarks. The committee recommended the removal of Surekha from the Cabinet and Chinna Reddy as vice-chairman of the State Planning Board.
The committee, headed by chairman Mallu Ravi, submitted its report to TPCC president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud on Tuesday with the recommendations. Speaking to reporters at Gandhi Bhavan, Mallu Ravi said the TPCC chief had forwarded the report to AICC Telangana affairs in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, who would send it to the party high command. The final decision would be taken in accordance with the directions of the Congress high command, he said.
Ravi said the committee had served show-cause notices on Surekha and Chinna Reddy last week and examined the replies submitted by both. The committee found their explanations unsatisfactory and felt there was no justification for the allegations they had levelled against Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, his family members and the Congress. It also took serious note of their comments and concluded that both leaders had crossed the party line.
The committee felt that the allegations were baseless and had damaged the image of both the Congress and the government in Telangana, and recommended that the leadership deal with them sternly. Ravi said the committee had considered not only the recent media reports concerning the two leaders but also their past conduct while preparing its report.
“Discipline is paramount in the Congress and the party’s respect depends on discipline,” Ravi said, adding that maintaining discipline was essential to ensure that the party retained public confidence and returned to power. He said disciplinary action was necessary to prevent negative perceptions about the party and to send a clear message to leaders and the cadre.
Ravi said the report contained all details relating to Surekha and Chinna Reddy and would also be forwarded to the AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and the AICC general secretary (organisation) K.V. Venugopal. He declined to disclose the full contents of the report, saying he could face a notice if he revealed details of what had been submitted to the leadership.
“We have incorporated all the issues in our report,” Ravi said adding that the committee intended to use the decision to convey a message to the party leadership and cadre on the importance of maintaining discipline and adhering to the party line.
The committee watched video clippings of Konda Susmita, daughter of Surekha, in which she made adverse remarks against Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and his family members. It also examined video clippings of Chinna Reddy making adverse comments against the Congress and Wanaparthy Congress MLA Tudi Megha Reddy. It also felt that Surekha was at fault for not condemning her daughter’s remarks despite being the Minister and being a senior Congress leader.
The committee disagreed with Surekha’s explanation that Susmita’s remarks were personal. It questoned why Surekha, as the Minister, had remained silent when her daughter was making remarks against the party, the government and the Chief Minister. “If someone speaks against the party, why did Konda Surekha not respond? According to the principles of natural justice within the party, she should have condemned the remarks. When remarks were being made against the government and the Chief Minister, why did she remain silent,” Ravi asked.
