"CM Reddy Behind This": BRS Slams Congress After Konda Surekha Retracts KTR Slurs
BRS spokesperson Putta Vishnuvardhan Reddy alleges CM Revanth Reddy pressured MLA Konda Surekha to malign KTR after she withdrew her comments.
The political atmosphere in Telangana has reached a boiling point as the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) launched a scathing counter-attack on the ruling Congress government. Following the sudden retraction of personal remarks made by Congress MLA Konda Surekha against BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR), the BRS has alleged that the entire smear campaign was orchestrated by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
"Allegations Falling Flat": BRS Strikes Back
BRS spokesperson Putta Vishnuvardhan Reddy asserted that the recent turnaround by the Congress MLA vindicates the party's leadership. He claimed that for the past three years, there has been a consistent pattern of politically motivated defamation aimed at humiliating and maligning the character of top BRS leaders.
"In the last three years, all these false allegations targeting the top leadership of the BRS party by calling them names, humiliating them, trying to target them personally, trying to malign their character... Today, every single one of those allegations is falling flat," Vishnuvardhan Reddy told ANI.
The Finger Points at CM Revanth Reddy
The BRS spokesperson argued that Konda Surekha's decision to withdraw her comments is not merely a personal apology but a revelation of internal pressures within the Congress administration. He explicitly alleged that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was the mastermind behind the attempt to tarnish the image of BRS leaders.
According to Vishnuvardhan Reddy, the strategy was designed to divert public attention away from the actual issues currently troubling the people of Telangana. He highlighted that Surekha herself has indicated she was under pressure to make those political comments, further implicating the Chief Minister.
The U-Turn: Konda Surekha’s Retraction
The controversy stems from earlier this week when Konda Surekha, a former minister and current Congress MLA, formally withdrew her personal attacks against KTR. In a post on her official X handle, Surekha expressed regret, stating that her previous remarks were made within the context of the political climate of the time.
She acknowledged that some of her claims were baseless and should not have been uttered, clarifying that she had no intention of hurting KTR or his family members or damaging their reputation.
The Original Allegations
The friction dates back to October 2024, when Surekha—then the state's Forest and Environment Minister—made explosive claims. Her allegations included:
- Linking KTR to the divorce of actors Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya.
- Claiming interference in the personal lives of film personalities.
- Allegations involving drug use, rave parties, and the blackmailing of actors.
Shifting Political Dynamics
This dramatic reversal comes at a time of reported instability for Konda Surekha within her own party. Her removal from the Telangana Cabinet and rumored differences with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and other Congress leaders have fueled speculation about her political future.
While the sudden change in tone has led to whispers about a potential rapprochement between Surekha and the BRS, there has been no official confirmation that she intends to switch sides and join the opposition.