“Will Not Leave Congress… We Will Win Warangal East Again”: Konda Surekha

WARANGAL: Former minister and Warangal East MLA Konda Surekha has sought to put an end to the political speculation surrounding her and her husband, Konda Murali, stating that they would not leave the Congress party and would contest the next elections from the same party.

Speaking at a meeting of key party workers in Warangal, Surekha said she would contest from the Congress in the next elections and expressed confidence that the Warangal East seat would remain with her unless the constituency was altered during delimitation. She also said they would work to ensure the victory of 24 corporators in the constituency.

Her remarks have triggered political discussion as she indirectly criticised several leaders from the erstwhile Warangal district.

Surekha said party workers who had stood by the Konda couple had been distressed over the past 10 days. She explained that she was late in meeting them due to the issue concerning Sumanth’s bail. She also remarked that the Vinayaka Chavithi festival period had not proved favourable for them. She criticised the growing opportunistic trend in politics.

Posts are only ornamental

Surekha said she had never brought disrepute to any position given to her by the Congress party. She claimed that she had helped everyone who approached her to the best of her ability.

“People can serve the public even without holding a post. A position is only ornamental,” she said, recalling that the Konda couple had earned a good reputation in the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh.

She asked party workers to remain alert in view of various reports being circulated about the Konda couple. Though there was speculation that they were receiving calls from the party high command and were planning to leave the Congress, she made it clear that there was no question of them quitting the party.

Surekha said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s objective was to politically empower Backward Classes and stressed the need to strengthen the party at the grassroots level. She also stated that Konda Murali would soon be given a chairman’s post.

Strong response to critics

Surekha reacted sharply to recent remarks by Basavaraju Saraiah and Nayini Rajender Reddy.

“I have seen a microphone after a long time. They are getting excited whenever they see a microphone,” she remarked, apparently referring to Saraiah.

She said Saraiah was claiming that he would defeat her and win as an MLA, and challenged him to first win as a corporator against her followers.

Referring to Nayini Rajender Reddy, Surekha alleged that he had earlier requested the Konda couple to accompany him to constituency programmes as he was unable to face Vinay Bhaskar. She questioned why Rajender Reddy and Venkat Reddy had remained silent after losing their posts, despite creating a commotion earlier over the position relating to the Bhadrakali temple.

She warned leaders speaking on behalf of the Konda couple to be cautious in their statements and asserted that they had pursued politics by adhering to their values.

“I have never apologised for a post”: Konda Muralidharrao

Konda Muralishar Rao also responded strongly at the meeting.

“A post may remain or go. But I have never written ‘sorry’ for it,” he said.

He observed that there were no leaders willing to come forward for the welfare of Backward Classes and said the Konda couple’s objective was to make Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister.

Murali urged leaders to stand by their word and said positions were not permanent. He added that gratitude was part of their nature. Referring to his car, he said no one else in the country had a car of the same colour and claimed that it symbolised Muslims.

Challenge over land-grabbing allegations

Murali challenged his detractors to prove the allegations that he had been involved in land grabbing.

“If it is proved that I indulged in land grabbing, I will quit politics,” he said.

Murali stated that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was aware of all the details concerning the allegations against him. He also confirmed that he had received a phone call asking him to come to Delhi.

He once again made it clear that the Konda couple would continue in the Congress and advised leaders and workers not to betray the party while remaining in it.

Naveen Raj given East constituency responsibility

Murali announced that the responsibility for the Warangal East constituency had been entrusted to Naveen Raj. He said corporator tickets would be given only to those who worked hard and had the ability to win.

He said they would move forward by taking all sections along and work to win all 24 corporator seats.

Murali also clarified that he had no political association with his daughter Susmitha. Claiming that several leaders continued to repose faith in him, he said, “Konda Murali’s word is his word.”

The latest remarks by the Konda couple have once again intensified discussion over internal politics within the Congress. There is also growing interest in how political equations in the Warangal East constituency may change ahead of the next elections.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KOTHA RAMESH

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