Gutta Sukhender Reddy, who was recently elected as the Member of Legislative Council (MLC), has been unanimously elected as the Chairman of Telagnana Legislative Council on Wednesday.
Since he was the lone member to submit the form for the post, Deputy Chairman Nethi Vidyasagar announced his election. Several Ministers and MLCs who were present in the Council congratulated Mr. Sukhender Reddy.
He was then taken to the Chair by Ministers K.T. Rama Rao, T. Harish Rao, Prashanth Reddy, Jagadish Reddy, Srinivas Goud and Talasani Srinivas Yadav and the opposition members T. Jeevan Reddy and N. Ramchander Rao.
A three-time member of the Parliament from Nalgonda constituency, Mr. Reddy succeeds T. Swamy Goud, who was the first Chairman of Telangana.
Speaking at the Council, IT Minister Mr. Rama Rao said many members of the Council were not even born when Mr. Sukhender Reddy joined active politics.
Recalling his services, Mr. Rama Rao said Mr. Sukhender Reddy rose from Sarpanch level to be an MP thrice. His work in milk cooperatives in Nalgonda are well known and he has complete understanding of fluorosis issue.
He said the Chairman was a friend of everyone and his relations with political leaders from all parties would ensure that the Council runs smoothly.
Minister for Women and Child Welfare, Satyavathi Rathod, former Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari and others recalled their association with Mr. Sukhender Reddy on the occasion.
Born in an agriculture family in Nalonda district, Mr. Sukhender Reddy started his political career as a village Sarpanch. He was initially with Janata Party and later joined the Telugu Desham Party. He was elected as MP for the first time in 2004 on TDP ticket and later on Congress ticket in 2009 and 2014.
He was quite active in the Telangana movement while being in Congress and he subsequently joined the TRS after the Telangana State was formed. He was nominated as the Chairman of the Telangana State Farmers’ Coordination Committee by the Chief Minister.
Mr. Reddy did not contest the last Parliament elections and was expected to be fielded as MLC candidate from the TRS. He was expecting ministry, but lost the race. Given his seniority, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao decided to use his services as the Chairman of the Council.
