Political dynamics in present-day elections may appear commercialized and opportunistic, but Telangana once witnessed an era when leaders rose from honest grassroots governance. Many prominent political figures who later became MLAs, ministers and even cabinet members began their public life as sarpanches, often elected unanimously without facing elections.
Senior leader Vodditala Rajeshwar Rao started his political career as the sarpanch of Singapur in Huzurabad mandal. He later won the 1972 Assembly elections from Huzurabad and subsequently served as an MLC and Rajya Sabha member. Former minister Ramreddy Venkat Reddy was elected as sarpanch of Lingala in Khammam district before becoming MLA five times and serving in the cabinets of Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Kiran Kumar Reddy.
Suddala Devayya of Peddapalli district served as sarpanch of Anthargam in 1981, joined the TDP in 1982 and later won as MLA in 1994 and 1999, eventually becoming a minister during the TDP regime.
Many Top Leaders Began at the Village Level
A large number of Telangana’s veteran MLAs earned their first mandate from rural voters. Among them: Komireddy Ramulu of Venkatraopet (Jagtial), Gandra Satyanarayana Rao of Buddaram (Bhupalpally), Nagapuri Rajalingam of Beckal (Siddipet), Velichala Jagapathi Rao of Gundi (Karimnagar), Kethiri Saireddy of Jupaka (Huzurabad), Anthireddy Vittal Reddy of Masayipet, Nyalakonda Rama Kishan Rao of Gangadhara, Patolla Narayana Reddy of Yousufpet (Medak), and Chilumula Vittal Reddy of Kaudipalli. All of them served as sarpanches before rising to become MLAs.
Cheruku Muthyam Reddy served as the sarpanch of Tukkapur in Siddipet and later won as MLA four times, becoming a Cabinet minister under Chandrababu Naidu. Karanam Ramachander Rao, elected five times as MLA from Medak and minister for ten years, started his leadership journey as sarpanch of Kottapalli in Papannapet mandal.
Profiles of Key Grassroots-Based Leaders
Captain Vodditala Lakshmikant Rao: Served as Captain in the Indian Army (1963–1968) and later was unanimously elected sarpanch of Singapur from 1983 to 1995. He won from Huzurabad in 2004 on a TRS ticket and served as BC Welfare Minister in the Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy government.
Juvvadi Ratnakar Rao: A prominent Telangana agitation activist from Timmapur in Jagtial, he served 12 years as sarpanch and later won the Assembly seat from Buggaram in 1989 as an Independent. He won again in 1999 and 2004 and became Minister for Endowments.
Gummadi Narsaiah: A five-time MLA from Illendu and New Democracy leader, he entered politics as sarpanch of Usirikayalapalli in 1981, resigned to contest Assembly and won. He gained reputation as an ideal public representative.
Vanama Venkateswara Rao: Former Health Minister in the YSR Cabinet, he began his political innings as sarpanch of Palvancha in 1971. He later became MLA four times from Kothagudem.
Duddilla Sripada Rao: Served as sarpanch before becoming MLA amid strong TDP wave in 1983. Later he won three more times and became Assembly Speaker in 1999 with cross-party support.
Geetha Mukund Reddy: Served twice as sarpanch of Kunaram in Peddapalli (1970, 1976). Later became Samithi president and MLA for three terms.
Desini Chinnamallaiah: A veteran communist and Telangana armed struggle leader, he served as sarpanch of Bommanapalli for 21 years and later became MLA four times from Indurthi/Husnabad constituency.
Arepalli Mohan: Elected as Manakondur sarpanch in 1988 and re-elected twice, later became ZP chairperson and finally MLA from Manakondur in 2009, serving as government whip.
Jogu Ramanna: Former Minister and BRS district president began as sarpanch of Deepaiguda in 1984. He later became ZPTC, MLA and minister in KCR’s first cabinet.
Katakam Mrutyunjayam: Senior leader from Sircilla began as ward member in Gambhiraopet gram panchayat in 1981. He later won as MLA in 1983 from Karimnagar constituency as Sanjay Vichar Manch candidate.
Village Governance Still a Launchpad for Telangana Politics
The common thread in the political journeys of these leaders highlights a significant pattern — strong grassroots leadership at the Panchayat level shaped many of Telangana’s most successful public representatives. As Panchayat elections approach, political observers emphasize that rural leadership continues to influence the state’s electoral landscape more than ever.