Oldtimers stage a comeback

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, NOV. 26. Of the 11 new Ministers, nine have served the Telugu Desam Cabinets headed by late N. T. Rama Rao or Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu himself.

Mr. D. Anjaneyulu, 71, is the oldest and Mr. Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy, 45, is the youngest.

In the fresh list, Dr. Kodela Sivaprasada Rao remains a big name. As widely speculated, he could make it to the cabinet for the third time -- earlier he served the Cabinet under NTR and Mr. Chandrababu Naidu, with Home, Major Irrigation and Panchayat Raj portfolios. Though known through Narasaraopet, the Assembly constituency which he has won four times so far, 54-year-old Dr. Rao comes from Kandlagunta in Nakrikal mandal of Guntur district. He did his college education at Andhra Loyola and Andhra Christian colleges at Vijayawada and Guntur respectively, and MBBS and MS in Guntur Medical College and Banaras Hindu University respectively.

From the other side of Guntur district comes Mr. J. R. Pushpa Raju, a man who has worked with the Telugu Desam since its inception. His brother, a doctor at Tenali, allegedly committed suicide, unable to withstand the atrocity committed against Tsundur dalits. He won the Assembly seat from Tadikonda and was chairman of the SC Corporation and later Minister holding Ports and Commerce portfolio.

Mr. B. Gopalakrishna Reddy who caused ripples in the Assembly with a counter-challenge to his detractors on Janmabhoomi implementation in his Chittoor district, served the Council of Ministers three years ago looking after Minor Irrigation. He headed the devasthanam trust managing Srikalahasti temple falling in his constituency with the same name.

Mr. Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy was the conevner of the Anti- Arrack Movement in his Nellore district which he served as district president of the party. He comes from Sarvepalli and won the Assembly seat in the 1999 elections. Educated at Nellore, Mr. Reddy had a humble beginning in politics, entering the field first as president of the Peddacherukuru Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society.

Mr. P. Ramasubbba Reddy, who comes from Gundlakunta village in Cuddapah district, is an engineering graduate. Representing Jammalamadugu, he served the Cabinet under NTR earlier with Forest portfolio.

Mr. D. Anjaneyulu, a multi-millionaire by virtue of being on industrialist, is an agriculturist. Coming from Thurupu Naidupalem in Prakasam district, he handled "Endowments" for a brief period earlier. According to an official press note, he is a matriculate.

Mr. T. Srinivas Yadav, a native of Hyderabad having his roots in Secunderabad which he represents now, is connected with several cultural and trade unions, organisations including Allwyn Employees' Association. Now 46, he was dropped from the Cabinet as Labour Minister by the Chief Minister during an earlier reshuffle.

Mr. M. Damodar Reddy is a farmer and businessman by profession. He was the convener of Telugu Yuvatha, the youth wing of the Telugu Desam, in 1994 and served the Council of Ministers with Mines and Geology before being dropped at that time.

Mr. S. Devaiah comes with grassroot-level experience drawn from panchayat raj bodies. Born at Antargam in Karimanagar district, he did B.A in Osmania University. He was dropped from the Cabinet earlier as Minister for Cooperation.

Mr. Pathiwada Narayana Swamy is a new face, hailing from Rellivalasi in Vizianagaram district. An agriculturist by profession, he has actively taken part in social service and won the Assembly seat from Bhogapuram in the same district.

Mr. P. Ramulu, 48, who represents Atchampet in Mahabubnagar district, is also a new entrant. He was earlier a Government employee.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Political factors behind A.P. reshuffle
Next     : Need to explore ties between law and economic
           change stressed