Himanshu Kapoor
Ponnala Lakshmaiah, a veteran politician with strong technical and academic background, is currently a cabinet rank minister in Kiran Kumar Reddy’s cabinet in Andhra Pradesh. Born in an impoverished & unschooled family in Janagaon, Warangal district, Andhra Pradesh on February 15, 1944, Lakshmaiah was the the first from his family to get higher education and he earned his MS Mechanical Engineering degree from the United States of America.
Being in politics since late 70’s, he held several key portfolios in the Andhra Pradesh cabinet including Information Technology and Communications, Endowments. Lakshmaiah began working with the Congress party in 1980, and in 1985, he organised a public rally as a mark of protest against the atrocities perpetrated by TDP workers on Harijans of Karamchedu and the indifferent attitude of the state government.
A four-time Member of Legislative Assembly - Lakshmaiah started off as a frontline soldier in politics through grass root campaigning for the Indian National Congress Party in 1978. He assumed increasing responsibilities over the years as Treasurer of Warangal District Committee in 1985 and Vice President of District Committee Warangal in 1988, member of State Congress Committee in 1990. Lakshmaiah served as Member of Legislative Assembly for four terms and as a minister under five different regimes.
During his tenure as the minister for fisheries, Lakshmaiah was committed to making a difference to the 5 Million people who depended on fishing. The state of Andhra Pradesh with a 970 km (600 Mile) coastline presented a huge opportunity for Lakshmaiah and he modernised the systems and assisted the families for better marketing and production of fishing products.
But Lakshmaiah never forgot his roots and giving back to his area of Jangaon in Warangal district that is achronic drought prone. With his enterprising ideas and long term vision, he promoted development of Poultry and Dairy in this area.
Rural development and Social Inclusion has been a top of Lakshmaiah’s agenda all through an illustrated political career that spanned 32 years till date. Lakshmaiah, the current Information Technology and Communications minister, positions himself as a friend and a business partner to the IT companies.
