'Who is Revanth to decide my ticket?': Minister's daughter challenges CM; exposes Congress rift

Hyderabad: A growing power struggle within the Telangana Congress has spilled into the open after Konda Sushmita, daughter of state minister Konda Surekha, launched a sharp public attack on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.

Sushmita, who is seeking a Congress ticket from Parkal, openly challenged the chief minister's support for sitting MLA Revuri Prakash Reddy and questioned his authority to decide who gets the party nomination.

Speaking in Parkal on Wednesday, she said there was no reason to wait for the next election.

"Why wait two years? Ask him to resign right now! Tell him to resign and contest the elections," she said.

She then issued a direct electoral challenge to Revanth Reddy.

"Whether you, your father, or your grandfather come, I will be the MLA of Parkal," she said.

Sushmita also made it clear that she would be willing to contest as an independent if the Congress denied her a ticket.

"Who is Revanth to decide my ticket?" she asked.

'Old Congress' versus Revanth camp

The remarks go beyond a routine fight over a party ticket and have exposed deeper tensions within the state Congress.

Sushmita accused Revanth Reddy of arrogance and alleged that his leadership had turned the Congress into a "TD Congress". She claimed several traditional Congress leaders were unhappy with the direction of the party.

She also levelled allegations involving the chief minister's family, including a claimed Rs 200-crore land deal involving his brother. She warned that she could raise further allegations over what she described as scams involving the family.

The Congress leadership moved quickly into damage-control mode.

The party's state disciplinary committee has sought an explanation from Konda Surekha within three days over her daughter's remarks against the chief minister.

Senior leader Jakkidi Prabhakar Reddy has also been suspended, while former minister and Planning Board vice-chairman Chinna Reddy has been asked to explain his position.

The action comes after the Congress high command had already warned that indiscipline, particularly at the ministerial level, would not be tolerated and that differences should be resolved within the party.

Komatireddy factor returns

The latest controversy has also brought the faction led by Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy back into focus.

The Munugode MLA has previously criticised the Revanth Reddy government, raising allegations of corruption and questioning the influence of outsiders and sections of the administration.

At the centre of the wider dispute is a familiar fault line in the Telangana Congress: the old guard versus the power structure that has emerged under Revanth Reddy.

The old guard includes senior leaders such as Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, D Sridhar Babu, Damodar Rajanarasimha and Konda Surekha, along with veteran leader V Hanumantha Rao.

Several of these leaders had earlier expressed reservations about Revanth Reddy's rise and his appointment as Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee chief.

On the other side is the organisational network built around the chief minister. It includes TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud, CWC special invitee Ch Vamshi Chand Reddy and leaders such as Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, Rajya Sabha MPs Anil Kumar Yadav and Vem Narender Reddy.

Ministers such as Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy and D Anasuya Seethakka are also seen as part of the Revanth camp.

With the factional battle now playing out publicly, the Congress high command faces a difficult balancing act.

A tougher crackdown could alienate senior leaders with strong regional support, while allowing dissent to grow could undermine Revanth Reddy's authority as chief minister.