Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Susmita Patel’s Parakal Poll Challenge Draws Congress Backlash
Konda Susmita Patel says she wants to run in the next election from Parakal.
She says she will contest even if Congress does not give her a ticket.
She criticised Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and MLA Revuri Prakash Reddy.
Susmita says her family helped Congress leaders in the past and is now being ignored.
She also said backward-class leaders and ordinary party workers need more respect.
Local Congress leaders disagreed with her statements.
They said Congress should decide who receives the election ticket.
They also said they would support Revuri if the party chooses him and asked Susmita to apologise.
Konda Susmita Patel said she will contest the next Parakal election with or without a Congress ticket.
Susmita accused Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and state Congress leaders of sidelining grassroots workers and her family.
She said her family supported Revanth Reddy’s bid for PCC chief and helped Revuri Prakash Reddy win a previous election.
Parakal Congress leaders rejected her remarks, questioned her political standing and demanded an apology.
The local leaders said they would work for Revuri Prakash Reddy if Congress nominates him again.
- Who
- Konda Susmita Patel; Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy; MLA Revuri Prakash Reddy; Minister Konda Surekha; and Parakal Congress leaders.
- What
- Susmita announced plans to contest the next Parakal election and criticised Congress leaders, while local party leaders condemned her remarks.
- When
- Susmita made her remarks on Wednesday; Parakal Congress leaders responded at a press conference on Thursday.
- Where
- Susmita spoke at a meeting in Gisugonda; the response was delivered at the MLA’s camp office in Parakal town, Hanumakonda district.
- Why
- Susmita said her family and grassroots workers had been sidelined, while local Congress leaders defended the party’s authority to select candidates and supported Revuri Prakash Reddy.
Susmita Patel’s Position
Parakal Congress Leaders’ Position
Parakal candidacy
Susmita Patel’s Position
Susmita said she would contest from Parakal regardless of whether Congress gives her a ticket and would rely on public support.
Parakal Congress Leaders’ Position
The local leaders said ticket allocation is the prerogative of the Congress high command and indicated they would support Revuri Prakash Reddy if selected.
Past political contributions
Susmita Patel’s Position
Susmita said her family supported Revanth Reddy’s rise and helped Revuri win an earlier election, so its contribution should be recognised.
Parakal Congress Leaders’ Position
The local leaders rejected her intervention in party affairs and questioned what development she had delivered for Parakal.
Treatment of Congress workers
Susmita Patel’s Position
Susmita alleged that grassroots workers, backward-class leaders, MLAs and her family were being sidelined by the state leadership.
Parakal Congress Leaders’ Position
The local leaders defended Revanth Reddy and Revuri Prakash Reddy and warned that Congress workers would not remain silent if they were criticised.
Political status
Susmita Patel’s Position
Susmita presented herself as ready to contest and said she respected Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi while seeking the high command’s attention.
Parakal Congress Leaders’ Position
The local leaders said Susmita has no Congress membership and should understand her political status before commenting on the party’s internal affairs.
- Declared constituency
- Parakal
- Susmita’s ticket position
- She said she would contest with or without a Congress ticket.
- Candidate backed by Revanth Reddy
- Sitting MLA Revuri Prakash Reddy
- Susmita’s past-support claim
- She said her family supported Revanth Reddy’s bid for PCC chief and helped Revuri Prakash Reddy win previously.
- Congress leaders’ response
- They condemned Susmita’s comments and demanded an immediate public apology.
- Membership dispute
- The local leaders said Susmita does not have Congress membership.
- Local Congress position
- They said all party ranks would work for Revuri if Congress gives him the ticket.
