Konda Surekha, a prominent Congress leader and Telangana cabinet minister, has recently come under fire for her controversial remarks linking Bharatiya Rashtra Samiti (BRS) politician KT Rama Rao (KTR) to the high-profile divorce of actors Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya. Her comments have stirred outrage not only in political circles but also within the Telugu film industry.
What Did Konda Surekha Say?
Konda Surekha, while addressing a gathering, alleged that KT Rama Rao played a role in the separation of Samantha and Naga Chaitanya. She further claimed that KTR’s influence was behind many actresses leaving the film industry, getting married early, or being blackmailed under the pressure of drugs. These comments quickly drew backlash, particularly from the Telugu film fraternity.
Backlash from the Film Industry
Senior Tollywood actors, including Chiranjeevi, Junior NTR, and Amala Akkineni, expressed their disapproval of Konda Surekha's remarks, calling them irresponsible and baseless. The film industry rallied in support of the two actors, condemning the comments and defending Samantha and Naga Chaitanya.
Retraction and Apology
Following the uproar, Konda Surekha took to social media to issue an apology to Samantha Ruth Prabhu in a post on X (formerly Twitter), written in Telugu. She clarified her position, saying, "My intention was only to point out how a leader is belittling towards women but not to hurt your sentiments, Samantha." She added, "If you or your fans have been hurt by my words, I unconditionally retract them. Please do not take it otherwise."
Despite her apology, the controversy did not die down, as KT Rama Rao took legal action against the minister. He filed a defamation suit, accusing Konda Surekha of making false claims about him, including allegations of phone tapping, drug involvement, and blackmail. KTR has demanded a public apology for the baseless statements.
Who is Konda Surekha?
Konda Surekha hails from Warangal, Telangana, where she was born and raised. She currently represents the Warangal East assembly constituency in the Telangana Legislative Assembly. She is married to Konda Murali, a former MLC, and the couple has one daughter.
Political Career
Konda Surekha's political journey began in 1995 when she served in the Mandal Parishad. Four years later, in 1999, she became a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), and the following year, she officially joined the Congress party.
She held a key position as the Minister for Women Development, Child Welfare, and Disabled and Juvenile Welfare in YS Rajasekhara Reddy's government. However, following YSR's death, Surekha resigned in 2011.
She contested by-polls in 2012 as a candidate of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) but later parted ways with the party in 2013 due to dissatisfaction with the leadership.
In 2014, Konda Surekha, along with her husband, joined the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). However, in 2018, they quit TRS and rejoined the Indian National Congress (INC). Under the Congress-led government, she now holds the portfolios of Environment and Forests, as well as Endowments.
