Meeting in New Delhi
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy met AICC general secretary (organisation) C. Venugopal in New Delhi on Tuesday for nearly an hour, amid indications that the Congress leadership is weighing disciplinary action against Minister Konda Surekha and senior party leader G. Chinna Reddy.
The meeting is understood to have primarily focused on Ms. Surekha and the political fallout of recent developments surrounding her. Mr. Revanth Reddy is learnt to have conveyed to Mr. Venugopal that disciplinary action was necessary to prevent the issue from affecting the image and functioning of the government.
According to The Times of India, the Chief Minister reportedly told Mr. Venugopal that stringent disciplinary action should be taken, especially against Endowments Minister Konda Surekha, to send a clear message that indiscipline will not be tolerated at any level. This has led to speculation in the party that Ms. Surekha might be dropped from the cabinet, with Mr. Revanth Reddy himself having strongly suggested it, the report said.
The Hindu reported that the Chief Minister explained that Ms. Surekha had been given considerable leeway in the past but had not altered her approach. He also pointed out that several Congress MLAs from the erstwhile Warangal district did not have cordial relations with her, adding to the political complications. However, Mr. Revanth Reddy is said to have left the decision to the AICC, saying he would be comfortable with whatever decision comes in.
Disciplinary Action and Party Reactions
A senior AICC leader told The Times of India: "The AICC top leadership will take a decision that would serve well for Congress to come back to power in the next elections, send a clear message that indiscipline will not be tolerated and ensure that CM Revanth is respected by one and all. AICC does not want to lose Telangana."
The AICC leadership has summoned Ms. Surekha to Delhi and is likely to seek her version on the TPCC disciplinary action committee's recommendation for her removal from the cabinet, according to The Times of India. The committee has also recommended seeking the resignation of planning board vice chairman G. Chinna Reddy for indiscipline. Ms. Surekha went to Delhi on Tuesday, sources told The Times of India.
The issue concerning Mr. Chinna Reddy also came up for discussion, The Hindu reported. Despite his seniority and loyalty, his recent remarks on money in ticket distribution are understood to have caused concern in the Congress leadership. His comments could potentially hurt the AICC, particularly since the central leadership has a decisive role in the selection of candidates, sources told The Hindu.
Next Steps
Mr. Venugopal has invited AICC in-charge of Telangana Meenakshi Natarajan and TPCC president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud for talks on Wednesday to seek their views on the developments, both The Times of India and The Hindu reported. Mahesh Goud has already reached New Delhi, according to The Times of India. Both leaders are understood to be in favour of some disciplinary action against erring leaders, The Hindu reported.
No decision is expected before Thursday, with the AICC examining the political implications of any disciplinary action, The Hindu reported. The leadership is particularly conscious of the sensitivities involved in taking action against Ms. Surekha, who is a BC woman leader, and any punitive action could give advantage to the opposition BRS and the BJP, the report added.
According to The Times of India, the meeting between Mr. Revanth Reddy and Mr. Venugopal also covered a possible cabinet reshuffle, a replacement for Ms. Surekha if she is dropped, induction of new faces into two vacant cabinet posts, the 1,000 days of the Congress government, the ensuing MLC elections, and nominated posts. Party sources told The Times of India that there is growing demand within the Congress to either drop her during a reshuffle or ask her to resign, and concern that failure to act could encourage indiscipline in the future.