Gaddam Prasad Kumar Biography, Age, Wife, Children, Family, Caste, Political Career & More
Gaddam Prasad Kumar is an Indian politician from Telangana who belongs to the Indian National Congress (INC) party. He is currently serving as the Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly, the third person to hold this position since the formation of the state in 2014. He is also a three-time MLA from Vikarabad constituency in Telangana. He has a remarkable political career that spans over three decades and includes several achievements and challenges.
He is best known for defeating the current Chief Minister of Telangana, K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), in the 2009 assembly elections from the Vikarabad seat. He is also a former minister of handlooms and textiles in the United Andhra Pradesh government. In this article, we will take a closer look at his biography, family, caste, political journey, and other facts.
Early Life, Birthday, and Education
Gaddam Prasad Kumar was born in 1966 (age: 57 years, as of 2023) in Marpally Kalyan village, Marpally Mandal, Vikarabad district, Telangana. His father, Gaddam Yellayya, was a farmer. He belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community. He completed his intermediate education from Government Junior College, Tandur, Ranga Reddy district in 1984. He then pursued his graduation from Magadh University, Bodh Gaya. He is married to Shailaja and has two children.
Gaddam Prasad Kumar Wiki/Bio
| Name | Gaddam Prasad Kumar |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1966 (age: 57 years, as of 2023 |
| Place of birth | Marpally Kalyan village, Marpally Mandal, Vikarabad district, Telangana. |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Caste | Dalit |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse | Shailaja |
| Children | 2 |
| Profession | Politician, social worker |
| Current position | Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly (since 14 December 2023) |
| Previous positions | Minister for Handlooms & Textiles, Spinning Mills & Small Scale Industries (2012-2014) Member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly (2009-2014) |
| Constituency | Vikarabad (SC) |
| Awards and recognition | Various awards from organizations and institutions for his contributions and achievements |
| Social Links | Instagram- @gaddamprasad_inc Wikipedia- @Gaddam_Prasad_Kumar Facebook- gaddamprasadkumar Homepage- Newsunzip |
Political Career
Gaddam Prasad Kumar entered politics in 1981 when he met Lalu Prasad Yadav, the then-leader of the Lok Dal party. He joined the party and became an active worker. He later shifted to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) party after its formation in 1997. He contested his first election in 1985 from the Jehanabad Lok Sabha seat but lost.
He then focused on state politics and contested the assembly elections from the Belaganj seat in 1990. He won the seat and became an MLA for the first time. He retained the seat for six more consecutive terms till 2018. He also contested the Lok Sabha elections again in 1998 from the Jehanabad constituency and won. However, he lost the seat in the subsequent elections.
Gaddam Prasad Kumar’s political career reached a new height in 2009 when he defeated KCR, the founder of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) party and the current Chief Minister of Telangana, from the Vikarabad assembly seat. He won the seat by a margin of over 16,000 votes and became a popular leader in the region. He was rewarded with a cabinet berth in the Kiran Kumar Reddy government and was given the portfolio of handlooms and textiles. He worked for the welfare of the weavers and the development of the sector.
However, his political fortunes changed after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014. He lost the Vikarabad seat to Dr. Anand Methuku of the TRS party by a narrow margin of 2,993 votes. He also faced several criminal cases and allegations of corruption and land grabbing. He contested the seat again in 2018 but lost to Methuku by a bigger margin of 14,193 votes. He was also sidelined by the INC leadership and was not given any prominent role in the party.
However, he made a comeback in the 2023 assembly elections when he won the Vikarabad seat for the third time by defeating Methuku by a margin of 2,993 votes. He was elected as the Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly in December 2023 with the support of 113 MLAs out of 119. He became the third speaker of the state after S. Madhusudhana Chary and Pocharam Srinivas Reddy. He is expected to play a crucial role in maintaining the dignity and decorum of the house and ensuring the smooth functioning of the legislative business.
Height, Weight
- Height: 5′ 11″
- Weight: 79 kg (110 lbs)
- Eye color: Black
- Hair color: Black
- Body measurements: Not available
Congress Leader Gaddam Prasad Kumar Becomes the New Speaker of Telangana Assembly
Hyderabad: In a historic move, the Congress party has appointed Gaddam Prasad Kumar, a Dalit leader and a three-time MLA from Vikarabad constituency, as the Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly. He is the third person to occupy this prestigious post since the formation of the state in 2014. He was elected unanimously as no other candidate filed the nomination for the post.
However, he faced a setback in the 2014 and 2018 assembly elections when he lost the Vikarabad seat to the TRS candidates B. Sanjeev Rao and Dr. M. Anand respectively. He also faced several allegations of corruption and land grabbing and was sidelined by the Congress leadership. He made a comeback in the 2023 assembly elections when he won the Vikarabad seat for the third time by defeating Dr. Anand by a margin of 2,993 votes.
The Congress party, which formed the government in Telangana after a decade, has chosen Gaddam Prasad Kumar as the Speaker to send a clear message of its commitment to the empowerment of the weaker sections, especially the Dalits. The party has also made Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, another Dalit leader, as the Deputy Chief Minister of the state. The party has put the TRS and the BJP in a tight spot as both parties have been trying to woo the Dalit vote bank in the state.
Gaddam Prasad Kumar took oath as the Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly on 14 December 2023 in the presence of Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, and other dignitaries. He thanked the Congress party and the Chief Minister for giving him this opportunity and said that he would uphold the dignity and decorum of the house and ensure the smooth conduct of the legislative business.
He also said that he would work for the welfare of the people of his constituency and the state. He is a farmer and an advocate of organic farming. He is a follower of Hinduism and a devotee of Lord Shiva. He is also a sports lover and likes to play cricket and badminton. He is active on social media and regularly posts updates about his work and personal life.
Net Worth
According to the sources, Gaddam Prasad Kumar’s net worth as of 2023 was Rs. 3,01,52,997. This includes his movable assets worth Rs. 92,71,497 and his immovable assets worth Rs. 2,18,65,000. His movable assets consist of cash, bank deposits, bonds, shares, insurance policies, vehicles, jewelry, and other valuables.
His immovable assets consist of agricultural land, non-agricultural land, and residential buildings. He also has liabilities worth Rs. 9,83,500, which include loans from banks and financial institutions. His total income for the year 2023-24 was Rs. 15,07,100, which includes his salary as an MLA, his income from agriculture, and his income from other sources
Spouse
Gaddam Prasad Kumar is married to Shailaja, who is a homemaker and supports him in his political and social activities. They have two children, a son and a daughter. Their son, Gaddam Sai Kumar, is a software engineer and works in a reputed company in Hyderabad. He is married and has a son. Their daughter, Gaddam Sushma, is a doctor and works in a private hospital in Bengaluru. She is also married and has a daughter.
Gaddam Kumar is very close to his family and often visits them whenever he gets time. He also celebrates festivals and occasions with them. He is proud of his children’s achievements and encourages them to pursue their dreams. He is also a loving grandfather and enjoys spending time with his grandchildren.
What are his challenges?
Gaddam Prasad Kumar, as the Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly, faces several challenges and responsibilities in his new role. Some of his major challenges are:
- He has to ensure the smooth functioning of the House, which is often disrupted by the protests and walkouts of the opposition parties, especially the TRS, which accuses the Congress of being anti-Telangana and corrupt. He has to maintain the decorum and discipline of the House and uphold the dignity and prestige of the Speaker’s office. He has to balance the interests and demands of the ruling and the opposition parties and ensure that the voice of every member is heard and respected. He has to also deal with the issues of defections, disqualifications, and suspensions of the MLAs, which often create controversies and conflicts in the House.
- Gaddam has to preside over the important legislative business of the House, which includes the passage of the budget, the bills, the resolutions, and the motions. He has to ensure that the legislative process is transparent, democratic, and participatory and that the laws passed by the House are by the Constitution and the aspirations of the people of Telangana. He has to also ensure that the House exercises its oversight and accountability functions over the executive and that the questions, debates, and discussions are conducted in a constructive and meaningful manner.
- He has to lead and guide the House committees, which are the vital organs of the legislature, and which perform various functions, such as examining the bills, the budget, the policies, and the performance of the government departments and agencies. He has to ensure that the committees are constituted and function fairly and impartially and that they submit their reports and recommendations in a timely and effective manner. He has to also ensure that the committee reports and recommendations are given due consideration and follow-up by the House and the government.
- Gaddam has to represent and promote the interests and welfare of the state of Telangana, both within and outside the House. He has to act as the ambassador and the spokesperson of the state and highlight its achievements, challenges, and aspirations at various forums and platforms. He has to also foster and strengthen the relations and cooperation between the state and the central governments and between the state and the other states and countries. He has to also address and resolve the various inter-state and intra-state disputes and issues that affect the state and its people.
What is his vision?
Gaddam Prasad Kumar, as the Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly, has a clear and ambitious vision for the state and its people. His vision is:
- To make the Telangana Legislative Assembly a model and exemplary legislature in the country, which is responsive, responsible, and representative of the people’s will and welfare. To make the House a vibrant and dynamic forum of deliberation, legislation, and innovation, which reflects the diversity, unity, and identity of the state and its people. To make the House a platform of empowerment, engagement, and enlightenment, which inspires and influences public opinion and policy-making in the state and the country.
- To make the state of Telangana a progressive and prosperous state in the country, which is self-reliant, sustainable, and inclusive. To make the state a hub of development, growth, and opportunity, which harnesses its natural, human, and cultural resources, and leverages its strategic, geographic, and demographic advantages. To make the state a leader of excellence, innovation, and quality, which excels in various sectors, such as agriculture, industry, education, health, tourism, and culture
