Murali, Rajgopal Meet Bhatti Amid Congress Row
The presence of ministers N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and D. Sridhar Babu at Praja Bhavan around the same time added to the buzz
HYDERABAD: Political drama unfolded at Praja Bhavan on Wednesday when Konda Murali, husband of minister Konda Surekha, and Munugode Congress MLA Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy met Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka amid tension over allegations of anti-party activities against the minister and the MLA for their public remarks concerning Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and the Congress.
The meetings assumed significance as the TPCC disciplinary committee, which inquired into the controversy surrounding remarks against the Chief Minister, submitted its report to TPCC president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud on Tuesday, recommending Surekha’s removal from the Cabinet for failing to condemn remarks made by her daughter Konda Susmitha against Revanth.
The presence of ministers N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and D. Sridhar Babu at Praja Bhavan around the same time added to the buzz. They later clarified they had attended a Cabinet Sub-Committee meeting chaired by Bhatti and were not part of any meeting with Murali or Rajgopal Reddy.
Murali and Rajgopal Reddy maintained their meetings with Bhatti were related to constituency development works and clearance of pending bills. Murali told reporters he had met Bhatti only regarding bill clearance and no political issue was discussed. He ruled out leaving the Congress, affirming faith in Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.
Murali distanced himself and Surekha from Susmitha’s remarks. “She has the right to speak independently,” he said, adding he had conveyed everything to the disciplinary committee and would not comment further until its decision.
The controversy erupted after Susmitha criticised Revanth for backing sitting MLA Revuri Prakash Reddy for the next election, questioning how the Chief Minister could announce a candidate when the party high command decides tickets.
Rajgopal Reddy, also facing allegations of anti-party conduct, said he had come to Praja Bhavan to discuss pending bills for his Munugode constituency and found Murali already present.
