What keeps Minister Konda Surekha away from her Dept?

Hyderabad: Something seems to be not right with Endowments Minister Konda Surekha who has kept herself away from the activities of her department for far too long. For more than month, there has been no review of the department by the Minister.

In this context, Konda Surekha’s conspicuous absence from various programs, including the one during the visit of Chief Minister to Keleshwaram Temple and the public meeting in Medigadda, has led to speculative discussions in political circles raising serious doubts.

During the Medaram Jatara held this year, certain contractual works relating to the festival were transferred from the Endowments Department to the Roads & Buildings Department. Even during the May 2025 Saraswati Pushkaralu in Karimnagar, the arrangements were overseen by the District Minister D Sridhar Babu. The last major piece of official communication, which came in March, was regarding arrangements to be made for the Godavari Pushkaralu slated to be held in June-July next year. That apart, Endowments Department officials recently met Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla in the Lok Bhavan to invite him to the Saraswati Antya Pushkaralu from May 21 to June 1. They gave a presentation on the Godavari Pushkaralu. The official team included Principal Secretary Shailaja Ramaiyar, Commissioner Hanumanth Rao and others. But the Endowments Minister was not present!

However, the Minister made a public appearance on Sunday when she met environmentalist and forest conservator Dushcharla Satyanarayana, who is undergoing treatment in NIMS Hospital after he was attacked in Suryapet. Konda Surekha said Satyanarayana’s wounded body resembled a forest that has been destroyed. She said that natural forces had saved him. Sources said that this visit also was in her capacity as Forest and Environment Minister. A week ago, there was a piece of communication about an urban eco-park coming up at Narsapur in Medak district.

When contacted, there was no response from the team of Konda Surekha. Sources said that the Minister was preoccupied with different programs and had some health issues, due to which she could not review the department. A source said that the Minister was “down with viral fever” for a few days and later she went to London. Political analysts are wondering what is really keeping the Minister away from the activities of her key department for so long.