Uttam Kumar Reddy takes oath as MP

Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Tuesday took oath as the member of 17th Lok Sabha. He was elected as MP from Nalgonda Parliamentary Constituency.

Uttam Kumar Reddy is probably the first ever fighter pilot of the India Air Force (IAF) to enter the Parliament as its member. In the past, Rajesh Pilot and Suresh Kalmadi, both from the IAF, became MPs. But they were transport pilots.

Uttam Kumar Reddy took the oath while Pro tem Speaker Virendra Kumar was on the Chair. He concluded his oath with the slogan 'Jai Hind, Jai Telangana.'

From a fighter pilot of Indian Air Force (IAF) to a Parliamentarian, Uttam Kumar Reddy's career has been both exciting and inspiring.

He was born on June 20, 1962 to Shri. Purushottam Reddy and Smt. Usha Devi. He is a native of Suryapet district and is a graduate from the NDA (National Defence Academy), Pune.

As a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force, Uttam flew the MiG 21 and MiG 23 in front line fighter squadrons on Pakistan and China borders. Later, he had served as the Aide & Comptroller to the President of India during the tenures of President R. Venkatraman and President Shankar Dayal Sharma in Rashtrapathi Bhavan.

He resigned from the permanent government job in 1994 to enter public life. He joined the Congress party and was nominated as candidate from Kodad Assembly constituency. However, he lost the election to his TDP rival. Despite making the political debut with a defeat, Uttam worked hard in Kodad constituency for the next 5 years and won the seat for the first time in 1999 and went on to become a 5-term consecutive MLA. In 1999 and 2004, he won as MLA from Kodad and in 2009, 2014 and 2018 he won from Huzurnagar constituency.

He had also served as Minister of Housing, Weaker Selection Housing Programme, AP Cooperative Housing Societies Federation and AP Housing Board in the cabinet of N. Kiran Kumar Reddy.

As the loyal aide of Gandhi family, Uttam Kumar Reddy played a critical role during the formation of separate Telangana State. He was the Congress representative in the official All Party meetings held by the Union Home Ministry in both 2010 and 2011. His effective representation convinced the Congress High Command and UPA Government to take a decision in favour of formation of Telangana.

In February 2014, he was appointed as the Working President of Congress Party and in the next year, he was made the President of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee.

Following defeat in Assembly elections held in December 2018, it was assumed that the Congress party had lost his stronghold in Telangana. However, Uttam Kumar Reddy again proved everyone wrong by winning the Nalgonda Lok Sabha seat with a comfortable margin. Under his leadership, the Congress party also won two other seats Bhongir and Malkajgiri and lost with a small margin in three other seats.

It was the 6th consecutive electoral victory for Uttam Kumar Reddy. By winning the Nalgonda Lok Sabha seat, Uttam joined the elite club of politicians who are difficult to be defeated even in adverse political conditions.

By concluding his oath with 'Jai Telangana' slogan, Uttam Kumar Reddy made it clear that he would be fighting for the rights of Telangana with the Centre. Making the Central Government fulfil all the promises made with the Telangana State in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act is the primary objective followed by seeking due share for Telangana in all the Central schemes. Further, he has vowed to get special incentives and funds for Nalgonda constituency under various schemes.