On being in politics

Suceess in life does not come easily particularly in fields like politics and business for woman. Though it is over seven decades since we got Independence, woman still face gender discrimination and I am a live example, says Akhila Priya, Minister for Tourism, Government of Andhra Pradesh.

The 26-year-old Akhila Priya is the youngest minister in AP cabinet. She is the daughter of Bhuma Nagi Reddy and Bhuma Shobha Nagi Reddy. She has done master’s in business administration, but entered politics following the sudden death of her mother Shobha Nagi Reddy in a car accident on April 24, 2014. In a free-wheeling chat, Akhila Priya states that she is in favour of woman taking to politics and business as professions.

Women can think in 360-degrees dimension and are good decision makers. But, they need to work harder than men to become prove their mettle and should learn to turn crisis into opportunity. This she says has been her personal experience. “My father Bhuma Nagireddy never had to campaign as much as my mother did. She had to go from door to door more frequently than my father.” Seeing this discrimination, Akhila Priya said she wanted to become a business woman and stay away from politics. But her mother died in a ghastly car accident and she had to enter politics.

Turning emotional, the young lady shared that when she hit the campaign trail, most of the time she would cry unable to control her feelings. “I could hardly say anything when I was asked to speak. The good will my mother had earned among people and my features, which closely resemble my mother, helped me win the polls with a majority of 18000 votes.

Going nostalgic, she relates that all through the period of transformation from being a novice to getting elected as an MLA, her father who had been a charismatic leader was her only source of strength. His training helped her face the challenges boldly, but after she lost her father following a heart attack in March 2017, she was all alone.

Once the protective umbrella was gone, she faced several problems. People whom she once considered her own spread rumours that she was arrogant, involves in quarrels and so on. They even resorted to character assassination. And those who did this were men. “The courage my parents particularly my father gave me emboldened me to face the situation, and finally, I had the last laugh,” she adds.

I faced gender-inequality in decision making, particularly during Nandyal by-elections. Some of the leaders in the district brushed aside my suggestions saying - what does a girl know about politics. “But thanks to the people who understood me, my strategies helped my brother Bhuma Brahmananda Reddy win the elections with huge margin of over 27000 votes.”

Recalling her difficult times, she says, “I came to Assembly a day after the death of my father. Chief Minister, who treats me as his own daughter assured me of help in developing my constituency, and he has been helping and guiding me.”

“However, there are still people (men) who want to run me down because of my gender,” she adds. Now she says a stage has come where the people of her constituency treat her as family member. “They come and even take food along with me.”

Detractors continue even as the young leader focuses on her goal. “My ultimate dream is to show case Andhra Pradesh as the best destination for tourism, and Allagadda as a progressive town and not faction-ridden one.”