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.
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. 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. 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. “Indiscipline, if allowed, has always the potential to snowball into dissidence activity.
“The Congress has been winning elections, including the 2023 assembly, panchayat, municipal, and Jubilee Hills by-elections under the leadership of CM Revanth.
The AICC’s backing for Revanth has been shaped by electoral considerations, according to party sources. 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. 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. He has been able to keep under check the growth of the BJP and the BRS. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi remarked that his party’s support was for Revanth and not the Congress.
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.
So far, he has been successful in winning the confidence of the party high command,” said a leader close to the chief minister. 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.