9 hours ago
THE THREE MUSKETEERS…
With social service in his genes
Hyderabad: The Chennur MLA, Dr Gaddam Vivek Venkatswamy, is a former Advisor to the State government and served as an MP in the Unified AP from Peddapalli constituency (2009-2014). He played a significant role in the Telangana statehood movement, using his position as an MP to advocate for the bifurcation of AP.
An MBBS doctor from Osmania Medical College, he is the youngest son of the veteran politician late G Venkatswamy, popularly known as Kaka. He represents the Mala community and is the father of Vamshi Krishna, the current Peddapalli MP. He served on the Coal and Steel Committees. Under the leadership of Mallikarjun Kharge, he played a pivotal role in Congress' success in Peddapalli and other Telangana constituencies after rejoining the party in 2023 from BJP. As part of social and educational contributions, his Visaka Charitable Trust oversees the distribution of over Rs 100 cr for social welfare initiatives, including building water borewells, schools, and promoting women's entrepreneurship in underdeveloped areas of Telangana and focused on community empowerment, health, hygiene, and infrastructure development. Venkatswamy owns V6 News Channel, which was founded during the Telangana statehood movement to amplify the region's voice. The channel provides live coverage of protests, dharnas, and key events, fostering awareness and unity. Later, he also founded Velugu News Daily in 2018, which became a popular newspaper in Telangana.
A first-time MLA becomes Minister
Hyderabad: The Legislator representing Makthal constituency is a first-time MLA and represents the fishermen community, the BC (D).
A graduate, Vakiti Srihari served as DCC (District Congress Committee) president of Narayanpet District prior to getting Congress ticket during the recent Assembly polls. Earlier, he had worked as Makthal Congress Mandal secretary. A former Makthal gram panchayat Sarpanch, he won with the highest majority in Mahabubnagar district in 2001 and served till 2006. A Congress leader for almost three decades, he also served as Mahabubnagar's district congress party vice president from 2001 to 2006.
The rise of a student leader
Hyderabad: A student leader who represented the NSUI from his Junior College days, Adluri Laxman Kumar, the Dharmapuri MLA, is from the Madiga community. The MLA had defeated Koppula Eshwar in 2023 Assembly polls.
The legislator is serving as Government Whip and his elevation came as surprise for the several in the party. Starting his political career in early 1980s as NSUI leader in Godavarikhani, he rose within the ranks as a student leader. Later, he was elected as General Secretary of District Youth Congress Committee of erstwhile Karimnagar district and rose to become general secretary at State level. The former ZPTC of Dharmaram mandal, after losing in the Assembly polls on several occasions, won in the 2023 polls with a majority of 22,000 votes against Koppula Eshwar.
