Hyderabad: Even as the Congress high command weighs disciplinary action against her, endowments minister Konda Surekha on Friday shared a public moment of bonhomie with chief minister A Revanth Reddy, tying a rakhi to him at his residence and signalling a temporary truce amid simmering political tensions.Surekha was accompanied by women and child welfare minister Seethakka. While Seethakka has been tying a rakhi to Revanth for the past 12 years, this was the third consecutive year that Surekha participated in the ritual.Surekha’s visit assumed significance as it marked her first meeting with the chief minister after the controversy triggered by comments made by her daughter Konda Sushmitha against Revanth and the Congress party. The TPCC disciplinary committee subsequently recommended action against Surekha for failing to condemn her daughter’s remarks. The committee also took into account her differences with Congress MPs, MLAs and MLCs from Warangal district.Amid speculation over whether she would be welcomed at the chief minister’s residence, particularly in view of reports that Revanth was upset over her silence on her daughter’s comments, Surekha was received and allowed to participate in the Raksha Bandhan celebrations, underscoring a distinction between political differences and personal or cultural occasions.After the event, Revanth posted on X: “On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, which stands as a symbol of the bond between sisters and brothers, ministers Seethakka and Konda Surekha tied rakhis. I wish that this Raksha Bandhan festival brings joy to every girl child. #RakshaBandhan #Rakhi #Telangana.”In another post, he stated: “To every elder sister, younger sister. People’s governance is Rakshabandhan. #RakshaBandhan #Rakhi #Telangana.”Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Surekha said she had tied a rakhi to the chief minister as she had done over the past two years. When asked about demands from Congress legislators for action against her, she declined to comment. “I do not want to comment on this auspicious festive day,” she said.However, she added that she prayed for the blessings of women to remain with Revanth. “Don’t single me out in this case. Today is a festival day and we all women have tied rakhis to the CM,” she said.Meanwhile, sources in the AICC told TOI that the Congress leadership is likely to convene a meeting in Delhi with Revanth, deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka, TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud and AICC Telangana in charge Meenakshi Natarajan to discuss disciplinary action against Surekha as well as Telangana State Planning Board vice-chiarperson and senior Congress leader G Chinna Reddy.The meeting is expected to be held in the first week of Sept.
