Former legislator of Nakrekal Assembly constituency and a leader in the Telangana Peasants’ Armed Struggle – Nandyala Srinivas Reddy, 101, passed away at his residence near Mutyalammagudi here in the early hours of Wednesday.
A staunch Communist, he was alert and kept abreast of the political dynamics during the State Assembly elections till December, and never missed reading Telugu and English dailies, relatives recollected. Srinivas Reddy, after his schooling in Suryapet and Warangal in the 1930s, entered the movement by attending Andhra Maha Sabha, and soon turned into a full-time activist in the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
“While he was the wing commander in the mid 1940s, he ran the office from his house. He distributed vast lands to the landless and fought against the doras (feudal landlords),” senior leaders who were here to pay tributes shared.
Other also recollected that Srinivas Reddy toured villages in Nizamabad, Bhuvanagiri, Warangal and Khammam, advocating against feudal policies, and subsequently when he attacked the feudal residences he was awarded death sentence by the then Military Tribunal. However, he escaped jail and later fought against the order.
Much later, in 1962, he contested from Nakrekal constituency and became its legislator. Former Miryalaguda legislator Julakanti Rangareddy said Srinivas Reddy remained a Communist to the core, shouldering party responsibilities at crucial times, and till his last breath.
CPI(M) politburo member B.V. Raghavulu, leaders from the State and district visited the bereaved family to offer their condolences, and remembered the life of its senior member. The body was shifted to Miryalaguda, where he served the maximum of his career, for visitors. And as per his wish, the body will be donated to the SVS Medical College, Mahabubnagar, family members said.
CM’s condolence
Chief Minster K. Chandrasekhar Rao condoled the death of Srinivas Reddy. In a message, Mr. Rao recalled the contribution of late Srinivas Reddy with a long standing in public life and for setting up high standards in the political field. He conveyed his condolences to the family members of the departed leader.
