Meet Congress candidate Ramasahayam Raghuram Reddy whose family has built a network of temples

Khammam: Much before the Ram temple was built in Ayodhya, the family of Congress’ Khammam parliamentary candidate Ramasahayam Raghuram Reddy built the Ram temple, Shiva temple and Venkateswara Swamy temple at many places.

Born on December 19, 1961 in Hyderabad to Ramasahayam Surender Reddy and Jayamala, Ramasahayam Raghuram Reddy completed a B.Com education from Nizam College, Hyderabad and later obtained a PG diploma in education.

Originally from Chegomma in Kusumanchi Mandal of Paleru constituency, his father Ramsahayam Surender Reddy was born and brought up in Khammam.

Ramasahayam Surender Reddy was among the Congress stalwarts. He was a four-time MLA from Dornakal constituency. Later, he was elected MP four times from Warangal constituency in Warangal joint district.

He has been active in the Congress Party since 1985. His family had close ties with the late Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and PV Narasimha Rao. Surender Reddy worked as police patel for Jeellachervu, Chegomma and Mutyalagudem villages in Kusumanchi mandal and Maddulapalli in Khammam mandal.

Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy, the then chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, nominated him to the Rajya Sabha in 2012 and to the MLC in 2014. However, at the last minute someone else was chosen.

Raghuram Reddy was the patron of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) from 2011-2013. He is currently Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Hyderabad Public School and a Board Member of the Hyderabad Race Club.

Along with Raghuram Reddy, his grandparents belonged to the Sevadrikpatha family. Market Yard, Police Station, Tehsildar, MPDO, RTC Bus Stand, PHCs, Government Schools, Government Colleges and TTD Welfare Halls were allotted for free in Maripeda-Bangla less than a decade ago.

Reddy Women’s Hostel was built in Warangal. Ram temple, Shiva temple and Venkateswara Swamy temple were built at many places. Their home in Chegomma, Kusumanchi Mandal, their native village, was donated to a government school for free. Raghuram Reddy’s family also donated land to PHC and Chegomma Harijan Colony

A battle for the seat of Khammam:

Party leader and deputy state minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and his cabinet colleague Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy had a tight fight over the Khammam seat.

Bhatti was contesting the Khammam seat ahead of his wife Nandini

KC Venugopal, secretary of the AICC, made it clear to both of them that neither of them would get the ticket on April 23. According to sources, there were many discussions and finally an agreement was reached for Reddy.

The Reddy community is very strong in Khammam and Congress workers, and survey reports showed that only a Reddy would have a better chance.

Last three seats

The last three seats, Khammam, Karimnagar and Hyderabad, became a bone of contention for AICC as the TPCC senior leadership failed to reach a consensus.

According to sources, CM Revanth Reddy gave clearance to Sameer Walliullah for Hyderabad and Velichala Rajender Rao for Karimnagar, but for Khammam he wanted to wait while the final reconciliation was carried out by KC Venugopal.