Revanth Reddy returns to Hyderabad as US visit denial, party row dominate
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy returned to Hyderabad on Monday morning, cutting short an overseas trip that was originally scheduled to cover London and the United States. He spent three days in the United Kingdom but could not proceed to the U.S. after the Central government denied permission for the second leg of the tour.
The Chief Minister and the Congress party have attributed the denial to political considerations. The Union government has not publicly stated its reasons for withholding approval, a step that is normally taken after security and administrative assessments. The episode has sharpened the focus on Centre-state relations, with the Congress suggesting that the denial was aimed at embarrassing the state government.
Shortly after landing, Mr. Reddy convened a meeting with all government Secretaries, indicating that he was back to work without a pause. He is expected to address the controversy surrounding his truncated visit either on Monday or Tuesday. According to sources, he is likely to question the Centre's decision and reiterate that the proposed U.S. tour was intended to engage with leading educational institutions and attract them to establish partnerships with universities and research bodies in Telangana.
Mr. Reddy had earlier thanked All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge for his support on the issue. Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge and Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka also publicly backed the Chief Minister and criticised the Centre's move.
Even as the Chief Minister deals with the external political battle, a separate internal row has been brewing within the Telangana Congress. Several party leaders, including Ministers, MLAs, and MLCs, are expected to meet Mr. Reddy and press for disciplinary action against Endowments Minister Konda Surekha. The demand stems from remarks made by her daughter, Konda Susmitha, against the Chief Minister at an event in Warangal.
The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) had issued a show cause notice to Ms. Surekha, seeking an explanation. In her response, she urged the party to withdraw the notice, arguing that she should not be held responsible for her daughter's words. However, she refrained from condemning the remarks, which has added to the disquiet among party ranks.
The issue escalated while Mr. Reddy was in the UK, with more than 20 Congress MLAs and MLCs holding a press conference in Hyderabad to demand action against Ms. Surekha. SC Welfare Minister Adluri Lakshman went a step further and sought her removal from the Cabinet.
A day before the Chief Minister's return, Ms. Surekha reportedly met AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi. The details of the meeting have not been made public, leaving room for speculation. It is unclear whether Ms. Surekha sought Kharge's intervention or discussed her response to the notice.
The controversy has also drawn attention to the silence of several senior Ministers, who have refrained from publicly commenting on the episode. Instead, it has been largely younger legislators, including first-time MLAs, who have spoken out against Ms. Surekha and rallied behind the Chief Minister. TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud has made it clear that those crossing the limits would not be spared irrespective of their position, a warning aimed at leaders targeting the government.
These developments place Mr. Reddy at the centre of two intersecting political challenges—one involving the state's relations with the Central government, and the other involving internal party discipline. How he navigates both in the coming days will be closely watched, as the Congress seeks to consolidate its position in Telangana.
