Konda Surekha rules out leaving Congress after Cabinet exit

Warangal East MLA Konda Surekha has dismissed speculation that she and her family might leave the Congress, asserting that they will remain with the party despite her removal from the Telangana Cabinet.

Speaking at a meeting with her supporters in Warangal on Sunday — the first such gathering since she was dropped from the ministry — Ms. Surekha said she had not brought any disrepute to the minister's post and voiced her anguish at being removed for what she called no valid reason.

She said the party high command had been in touch with her by telephone, and expressed the hope that her husband, former MLC Konda Muralidhar Rao, would soon be given a chairman's post in one of the State corporations. The couple also said they would work to make Rahul Gandhi Prime Minister.

Ms. Surekha took an indirect swipe at Warangal West MLA Naini Rajender Reddy and MLC Baswaraju Saraiah, remarking that the latter would not win even a corporator's seat. She criticised what she described as growing opportunistic politics, saying the family was in public life to serve people rather than to hold posts, and urged her followers not to be misled by false propaganda.

Mr. Muralidhar Rao said they would continue in politics on the strength of their values and warned rivals against commenting on them. He ruled out the couple leaving the Congress and set a target of winning 24 corporators in the Warangal East constituency in the coming Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation elections.

The former MLC said tickets would go to those who work hard and promised to stand by party workers.