Hyderabad: Konda Surekha’s exit from the Telangana cabinet is being read as an assertion of authority by the Congress high command, one that has effectively ended speculation over chief minister A Revanth Reddy’s standing within the party and consolidated his control ahead of crucial urban local body elections.Party insiders and political observers view it as a calculated move to firmly back Revanth, reinforce his authority within the Congress, and ensure organisational cohesion. The buzz within Congress circles is that the Surekha episode will give Revanth greater political flexibility ahead of the elections to the GHMC, Malkajgiri and Cyberabad municipal corporations in the CURE region.
Political observers said the high command has sent a loud and clear message that indiscipline and public criticism of the chief minister will not be tolerated. “Indiscipline, if allowed, has always the potential to snowball into dissidence activity. The AICC did not want a split in the party either in favour of any other strong leader or against CM Revanth,” said political observer S Ramakrishna.With the high command standing firmly behind him, Revanth is now believed to have greater room to undertake not just the long-pending cabinet expansion but also a wider reshuffle. Apart from filling the three vacant berths, he could gain the freedom to reallocate portfolios and recalibrate his team. Observers say the move is also likely to temporarily dampen the discontent that had been brewing among a section of Congress leaders, though underlying factional rivalries may persist.Cabinet aspirants, some of whom had openly expressed dissatisfaction with the chief minister’s style of functioning, are expected to be more measured in their public statements. At the same time, party leaders say Revanth too will be mindful of carrying different sections of the party along.“Revanth himself will also be more cautious and responsible than ever and would try to give a message that he would take along everyone, in the interests of the party. So far, he has been successful in winning the confidence of the party high command,” said a leader close to the chief minister.According to party sources, the AICC’s backing for Revanth has been shaped by electoral considerations. The leadership is keen to avoid internal divisions in a state that remains one of the Congress’s most important political successes in recent years.“The Congress has been winning elections, including the 2023 assembly, panchayat, municipal, and Jubilee Hills by-elections under the leadership of CM Revanth. He has been able to keep under check the growth of the BJP and the BRS. Strengthening the hands of Revanth while gearing up for GHMC and two other municipal corporation elections would augur well for the party to prepare for the next assembly elections too,” said a senior political observer.Revanth’s confidence was also on display during the inauguration of a bridge in the Old City on Thursday, where he declared that no one could threaten him and that he would surrender only to friendship. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi remarked that his party’s support was for Revanth and not the Congress.By also siding firmly with a senior colleague, Revanth sent his clearest signal on the state party’s power structure. On Friday, Revanth posted on X: “I am glad to have a former officer of the Indian Air Force as a colleague -N. Uttam Kumar Reddy garu. Indeed, Telugu people have been at the forefront in joining the Armed Forces and serving their motherland. Join me in sharing our gratitude and respect for our forces, our men and women in uniform, present and past, our soldiers, our best and greatest people, who are forever willing to give up their today for our better and safer tomorrow. @uttamINC.”
