Coming from a poor family of agriculturists, Mudireddy Kodanda Reddy, presently a key member of the Dharani Committee, had his baptism in politics as a foot soldier of the initial Telangana struggle of the late Sixties. Kodanda Reddy’s love for Telangana and agriculture blossomed over the years, keeping him active in typical Congress politics. Today, Kodanda Reddy is not happy with the disruption of the revenue sector that took place under the erstwhile Bharat Rashtra Samithi regime. Passionate about helping the agricultural sector, he has now doubled down to do his best to ‘cleanse’ the Dharani portal. As a separatist, he was happy at the bifurcation of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, but is disillusioned with the destruction that took place in Telangana under the BRS government. In a conversation with
The Pioneer’s Kolishetty Venkateshwarlu, he avers that he will strive to correct the mistakes that took place in revenue records due to which many original land owners have been deprived of their holdings.
Childhood
I was born on January 2, 1943 in Yacharam mandal, Rangareddy district to Mudireddy Ram Reddy and Seethamma. I had a brother and four sisters. They are no more. I am the youngest one in the family. Our family was poor. I completed my primary education in my village and high school education in Ibrahimpatnam. Later, I discontinued my education due to our family’s financial constraints. I came to Hyderabad and stayed with my uncle Bomideeka Malla Reddy, working for his rice and oil mills.
Entry into politics
I participated in the separate Telangana movement in 1969 and worked under the leadership of former Chief Minister Dr Marri Channa Reddy and Mallikarjun and others. I faced several troubles while participating in the separate Telangana movement. I was kept in jail twice in 1969 during the agitation spearheaded by Channa Reddy for staging a dharna at All India Radio office protesting the arrest of former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi. Nayini Narsimha Reddy was my jail mate in the then Musheerabad Jail. Our movement for Telangana was a sincere one and a great one at that. Even BBC London had declared that our movement as a great one. We had continued our fight for the sake of separate Telangana in and out of the Assembly. At one point, when Chandrababu Naidu was the chief minister and Yanamala Ramakrishnudu the Speaker; we moved an adjournment motion for a discussion on the backwardness of the Telangana region. However, Yanamala Ramakrishnudu did not allow our motion. Privately, Yanamala had advised us in his chamber that he would allow a discussion only if we assured him that we would not use the word ‘Telangana’. We did not accept his offer. Then some members of the House joined us in demanding a discussion on the motion. But Yanamala did not budge and suspended us from the House. Present Bharat Rashtra Samithi chief K Chandrasekhar Rao was in the House as a minister, but had kept mum. He did not support us even though Andhraites had insulted us.
I then waged a fight to check suicides by cotton farmers based on a report given to me by New Democracy leader Gade Diwakar. I worked hard then, visiting all the districts in Telangana region and found the reasons for the suicides. I also mentioned in the Assembly about a farmer named Lingaiah, who had committed suicide in Siddipet constituency, home turf of KCR.
KCR had launched his phase of the Telangana movement as Chandrababu Naidu did not give him a ministerial position. Instead, Chandrababu Naidu gave Minister post to Vijayaramarao, who belongs to KCR’s community. KCR is selfish; he waged the Telangana statehood movement only to become the Chief Minister. KCR’s only target was CM seat.
Influenced by T Anjaiah
I got influenced by former chief minister T Anjaiah and I worked as his election agent in the year 1978 in the Musheerabad constituency. That was my entry into hard-core politics.
There were two lists of Congress leaders at that time in Gandhi Bhavan. My name was in the Separatists’ list. Due to this, I got an MLA ticket very late. By the time I got a ticket, I was among the senior leaders in the Telangana region. In 1989, I got an MLA ticket for the first time to contest from the Musheerabad constituency. The then TPCC president Channa Reddy gave the ticket due to the regard he had for me then. I got elected as an MLA in my very first contest. I was elected in the 1994 elections for the second time. Channa Reddy made me chairman of the AP Agro Industries Development Corporation, where I served during 1990-1992. Later, I served as chairman of the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (1992-94). I then worked as Telangana Kisan Congress chairman (2006-18) and as in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh Kisan Congress. Now, I am serving as the Kisan Congress national vice-president. I also worked as the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) secretary when late Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy was the chief minister. I served the Congress when it was in the opposition camp during 1994-1999, totaling seven years.
Then chief secretary SV Prasad once urged Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy to give me a ministerial position. Kotla replied: ‘Already many Reddys are there in my Cabinet; how can I accommodate him?’
Marriage
My uncle Bomideeka Malla Reddy arranged my marriage with Savithri in 1961. My wife belongs to Venkiryala village. I have two daughters and a son. My elder daughter’s name is Jayaprada and her husband’s name is Ramachandra Reddy. My younger daughter’s name is Bhanu, who got into inter-caste marriage. She is working in America along with her husband Anand Kumar. My son Jayaprakash and his wife Swapna are working in America. My son Jayaprakash has no ‘tail’ Reddy like us at the end of his name as he has modern thoughts. However, my younger daughter Bhanu wants to identify herself as Bhanu Reddy. My son is not interested in politics. My grandson wants to become a doctor. However, my younger daughter Bhanu Reddy is interested in politics. Some time back, she asked me to help her meet Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. But I advised her not to enter into politics as the present-day politics does not suit her. My elder daughter’s husband Ramachandra Reddy once tried to field my daughter Jayaprada as a corporator; however, the then TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said that he would give tickets based on surveys. Then I advised my daughter to keep away from politics. In fact, I have always advised my children not to enter politics. Present-day politicians need money as well as extra skills like speaking lies and deceiving others etc.
My accomplishment
I made former chief minister late YS Rajashekhar Reddy bring an enactment to control the prices of cotton seeds. I am very happy being in the Congress party as it has given me recognition.
I am working as a Dharani Committee member. KCR’s Dharani portal is a dangerous one and we are working to solve all Dharani-related problems. Under the leadership of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, I will try to do justice to all the farmers affected due to the Dharani portal. It is my wish too and that will give me happiness.
Painful moments in politics
It is painful to note that parliamentary systems have been destroyed in the state as well as across the nation since 2014. It pained me a lot when the then speaker Yanamala Ramakrishnudu did not give the mike to (former chief minister NT Rama Rao) NTR in the House. I had then supported NTR asking the Chair to give him the mike, but Yanamala did not yield. I got tears in my eyes while seeing NTR, the great leader. I was pained when Indira Gandhi was jailed. I, along with some leaders, staged a dharna at AIR but the police arrested me and kept me in Musheerabad Jail.
Cherished moments
I felt happy when the Congress party granted separate statehood for Telangana because it marked the fulfilment of my long-standing wish. Another happy moment was when the Congress came to power in separate Telangana State.
Friends
I have many friends in and outside politics. Late Purushotham Reddy encouraged me a lot. My close friend in politics is former PCC president V Hanumantha Rao. Prabhakar is my best friend. Marri Shashidhar Reddy, T Kumar Rao and G Niranjan are also my good friends. P Narsa Reddy’s family is also close to me. From my village, Bomideeka Kodanda Reddy, my good friend, is still into agriculture. Balakrishna Reddy is also a good friend from my village. Hanumantha Rao and I have some similarities in the Congress party. VHR is 4 years younger than me, but we have ‘emraa’ friendship…We are that close. VHR is open-minded and ‘bolabala’. VHR and I did not reach expected positions. Yet, we both are happy.
Favourite politicians
My favourite politician is Indira Gandhi at the national level. In the erstwhile AP state, my favourite leaders were Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy and YS Rajashekar Reddy. Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy was sincere. Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy did not have a house in Hyderabad even during his second tenure as chief minister. His son Suryaprakash Reddy constructed a house. Even late Rajiv Gandhi gave certificate to Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy when journalists asked him why there were no ‘sincere’ leaders in his cabinet. Then Rajiv Gandhi replied saying I have two sincere ministers-AK Antony and Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy.
My favourite non-Congress politician is former chief minister NTR because he was a man of integrity and responded to genuine issues.
I like NTR and Savitri
I used to watch films of NTR and Savitri frequently, but don’t get time for movies these days. I am a fan of both. My wife’s original name was actually ‘Bondhamma’, but my in-laws asked me before marriage whether I wanted to change her name. Then I changed my wife’s name to Savitri.
My food, habits
I like roti, mutton and fish and I don’t like chicken. I eat seasonal fruits every day. I used to play shuttle badminton. Now I am not in a position to play shuttle. I play cards for two hours every day in Nizam Club. I go to my village once or twice a week. I visit my farmland. I sold my MLA house site (600 square yards in Jubilee Hills) that was given to me by the former CM Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy and purchased 25 acres in my village. Now I have 45 acres of land. I have a mango garden and two chicken farms.
My present aim is to provide rights to genuine farmers by cleansing Dharani portal.
