R. Krishnaiah

Ryaga Krishnaiah (born 13 September 1954), known as R. Krishnaiah, is an Indian politician and social activist known for his dedicated efforts towards improving the lives of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and India. Over the past 45 years, Krishnaiah has been a prominent voice advocating for the upliftment of OBC communities through various platforms, including politics, education, and legal reforms.

R. Krishnaiah
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office 22 June 2022 – 23 September 2024
Preceded by	Suresh Prabhu
Constituency	Andhra Pradesh
Member of Legislative Assembly, Telangana
In office 2 June 2014 – 11 December 2018
Preceded by	Devireddy Sudheer Reddy
Succeeded by	Devireddy Sudheer Reddy
Constituency	Lal Bahadur Nagar
Personal details
Born	(1954-09-13) 13 September 1954 Rallagudpally Village, Mominpet Mandalam, Vikarabad district, Telangana
Political party	YSR Congress Party (2022–present)
Other political affiliations	Telugu Desam Party (until 2019)
Spouse	Shabari Devi
Children	Rishi Arun Rani Shweta devi
Residence	Hyderabad

Krishnaiah's political career gained prominence when he was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the L.B. Nagar constituency in 2014, representing the Telugu Desam Party. His tenure as MLA was marked by his steadfast commitment to championing the rights and welfare of marginalized communities. Throughout his political journey, he has consistently worked to promote policies to increase access to education, employment, and social justice for OBCs.

In 2022, Krishnaiah furthered his political career by being elected to the Rajya Sabha as a representative of the YSR Congress Party from 2022 until 2024. During his time as a Member of Parliament, Krishnaiah continued to focus on his lifelong mission of advocating for the upliftment of OBC communities. His role in the Rajya Sabha allowed him to influence national policies, bringing attention to issues related to social equality, affirmative action, and the economic empowerment of backward classes.

Krishnaiah is also recognized for his work as an OBC activist and leader, tirelessly advocating for their rights for over three decades. He has been a key figure in improving the social and economic conditions of the OBCs by pushing for better access to education and employment opportunities, especially through government welfare schemes and reservations.

Krishnaiah's lasting legacy lies in his unwavering commitment to social justice and the upliftment of marginalized communities. His efforts continue to inspire many across the country, especially those fighting for equality and the rights of the oppressed.

Early life and education

Krishnaiah holds impressive academic qualifications, including M.A., LL.M., M.Phil., LL.B., and B.Com. His expertise in both law and commerce has been instrumental in shaping his career as an advocate for social justice.

As the President of the National Backward Classes Welfare Association, Krishnaiah has played a crucial role in advancing the rights and welfare of Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Under his leadership, the association has become a strong voice for over 140 unions of OBC employees across various Central and State Government departments. His advocacy has significantly impacted the working conditions and representation of OBCs in government sectors.

In addition to his work with OBC unions, Krishnaiah serves as the President of the Social Welfare Hostel Union. This organization represents 1.4 million hostel students from Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and OBCs, ensuring that these students have access to quality education, proper accommodations, and necessary support systems. His leadership has empowered numerous students from marginalized backgrounds to pursue higher education and achieve their potential.

Krishnaiah is also the editor of BC Garjana, a magazine that addresses social issues affecting backward classes and other disadvantaged groups. Through this platform, he raises awareness about inequalities and advocates for systemic reforms.

His political career includes serving as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from 2014 to 2018. In 2014, he was nominated as the Chief Ministerial candidate for Telangana by both the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), reflecting his widespread influence and leadership. Over the years, Krishnaiah has also been actively involved with organizations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), and the Andhra Pradesh Social Welfare Hostel Students Union.

Early Activism and Educational Reforms

In 1976, Krishnaiah began his campaign for separate hostels for high school students, which resulted in the Andhra Pradesh government establishing between 300 to 500 new hostels annually. Today, over 5,000 hostels provide free food and accommodation to more than 500,000 students from BC, SC, and ST communities. His leadership played a crucial role in enabling economically disadvantaged students to access quality education through government-supported hostels.

He also successfully led agitations to secure scholarships for poor students in junior colleges, degree colleges, and universities, which did not exist before 1976. Additionally, Krishnaiah's efforts resulted in the construction of over 600 residential colleges across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, offering educational opportunities to students from weaker sections.

Reservation Advocacy

In 1980, Krishnaiah spearheaded the movement to implement reservations for BC students in private engineering colleges in Andhra Pradesh. Despite an attempt by private engineering management to offer him ₹15 lakhs as a bribe, he refused and continued to push for reform, resulting in the successful implementation of reservations.

From 1989 to 1993, Krishnaiah fought for reservations in village panchayat sarpanch posts for BCs, leading to the government conceding 34% reservations. His activism extended to mandal parishad, zilla parishad, and municipal elections, where he secured 20% reservations for BCs in 1996 after a series of protests directed at the then Chief Minister, N. T. Rama Rao.

Implementation of Mandal Commission Recommendations

Krishnaiah’s most significant national recognition came in 1990 when he led successful protests in Andhra Pradesh for the implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations. This victory established his influence on a national level, allowing him to directly submit memorandums and recommendations on behalf of the backward classes to state and national authorities, including the Prime Minister and the President of India.

Other Campaigns

In 1996, Krishnaiah led protests by sarpanches from Andhra Pradesh demanding specific check power rights. The movement culminated in a successful negotiation with the state government, further cementing Krishnaiah’s role as a champion of rural leadership.

Krishnaiah has also been involved in various legal battles and protests, including a fight against the construction of the Almatti Dam and the campaign to ban single-number lotteries in Andhra Pradesh. Over his four-decade-long career, his activism has led to the issuance of over 2,000 Government Orders (GOs), addressing welfare, education, public health, and social justice issues.

Awards

• National Ambedkar Award (2003)
• National Mahatma Jyothi Rao Pule Award (2011)

External links

• "Briefly: Fair deal for BC urged". The Hindu. 12 August 2005. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
• "The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : BC leaders clash at panel meet". 1 July 2012. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012.
• http://www.goudsinfo.com/famouspersons.htm Archived 9 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
• rkrishnaiah.com Archived 7 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine
• OBC Rules information www.obcguru.com by Shailendra Wagadre