Telugu Historyతెలుగు చరిత్ర

Marri Chenna Reddy

Marri Chenna Reddy was a Congress leader from Telangana. He was a minister in Hyderabad State from 1952 and signed the Gentlemen's Agreement of 1956. In 1969 he led the Telangana Praja Samiti, which demanded a separate state. He was Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh twice, from 1978 to 1980 and from 1989 to 1990, and later Governor of several states. He died while Governor of Tamil Nadu, and its Assembly mourned him in January 1997.

Marri Chenna Reddy was a Congress leader from Telangana who served twice as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.1 He first held office in Hyderabad State in 1952, and in 1969 he led the movement for a separate Telangana State.23 He ended his life as Governor of Tamil Nadu.4

Most of this page follows G. Venkataramarao’s Telangana Charitra (2014), which tells his career in detail and is often critical of him.5 The page also uses P. Raghunadha Rao’s history, the Government of India’s yearbook India and the condolence speeches in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.674

Hyderabad State and the union of 1956

In its condolence resolution of 1997, the Tamil Nadu Assembly recalled that he had taken part in the freedom struggle.4 Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said that Chenna Reddy had fought the Nizam’s rule and gone to jail as a young man.4

After the first general elections, Burgula Ramakrishna Rao formed a ministry in Hyderabad State in 1952.8 Chenna Reddy was one of its cabinet ministers, in charge of supply.82 Venkataramarao writes that he soon quarrelled with the Chief Minister.8 In 1955 he backed J. V. Narasinga Rao, who won the election for president of the state Congress.8 On 2 May 1955 the Chief Minister took the planning and development departments away from him.8

In February 1956 Chenna Reddy was one of the four Hyderabad leaders who signed the Gentlemen’s Agreement for the union of Telangana and Andhra.9 When Andhra Pradesh was formed later that year, he opposed Burgula Ramakrishna Rao’s bid to lead it.10 Venkataramarao writes that he was left without any office.11

Minister and a lost election, 1962–1968

After the elections of 1962, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy formed his second ministry, and Chenna Reddy joined it.12 Venkataramarao notes that this came after five years out of office.12 He later joined the group of K. Brahmananda Reddy, who became Chief Minister in 1964.13

In 1967 Chenna Reddy was made a minister in the Central Government, a week after the new state cabinet was sworn in.13 Venkataramarao writes that some believed the Chief Minister had sent him to Delhi to keep him out of state politics.13 In April 1968 the Hyderabad High Court decided an election petition against him.14 When the Supreme Court also ruled against him, he had to resign as Union minister and from the Rajya Sabha.1415 Venkataramarao adds that he was barred from elected office for six years.16

Leader of the Telangana Praja Samiti, 1969–1973

In 1969 Telangana was swept by an agitation over the safeguards of 1956, told on The Telangana and Jai Andhra agitations.3 Chenna Reddy became president of the Telangana Praja Samiti, and Venkataramarao writes that the movement then gained strength.3 On 10 April 1969 he was one of four Telangana leaders who met the Prime Minister at her request.17

Raghunadha Rao writes that the government arrested Chenna Reddy, as leader of the Praja Samiti, during the agitation.18 The Samiti later accepted the Prime Minister’s plan and merged with the Congress.19 Venkataramarao reports a belief that the Prime Minister had used Chenna Reddy to remove Brahmananda Reddy.19

On 21 January 1973, during the Jai Andhra agitation, Telangana Congress members met in Hyderabad under his chairmanship.20 They resolved to fight for a separate state and formed the “Telangana Congress Forum”.20 Karunanidhi later called his part in the Telangana struggle of 1968–69 a golden chapter of his life.421

Chief Minister, 1978–1980

In the years of J. Vengala Rao’s government, Chenna Reddy was appointed Governor of Uttar Pradesh.22 On 18 January 1978 he was made president of the new Indira Congress in Andhra Pradesh.23 In the Assembly election of February 1978 the Indira Congress won 175 seats.236

Chenna Reddy was sworn in as Chief Minister on 6 March 1978.2417 Venkataramarao writes that 19 members of his cabinet were ministers for the first time, and that posts went to the Andhra and Telangana regions in the ratio 3:2.24 Raghunadha Rao says he declared that there would be no separate Telangana problem any more.6

Discontent began within three months.25 After Indira Gandhi returned to power in 1980, fifteen of his ministers signed a list of charges against him.25 A dissident leader claimed the signatures of 167 of the 255 Congress members of the Assembly.25 Chenna Reddy resigned on 10 October 1980, after 30 months in office.5

Venkataramarao sums him up as a bold and able administrator who lacked patience.5 He writes that corruption was widely alleged under his rule, but also that Chenna Reddy respected the freedom of the press and never lost his dignity.5

Chief Minister again, 1989–1990

The Congress won the Assembly election of 1989, and Chenna Reddy, then president of the state Congress, became Chief Minister for the second time.26 A ministry of 19 members headed by him was sworn in on 3 December 1989.271

Venkataramarao writes that this term was troubled from the start.26 In the first week of December 1990, communal riots in the old city of Hyderabad killed 71 people.28 He also credits Chenna Reddy with getting World Bank loans for permanent works in the cyclone areas of the coastal districts.29 Chenna Reddy resigned as Chief Minister in December 1990.29

Governor and death

In the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Karunanidhi listed the offices Chenna Reddy had held:4

  • Governor of Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu
  • Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
  • Union minister
  • Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission4

His motto, Karunanidhi said, was “No delay, no postponement”.21 Chenna Reddy died suddenly while he was Governor of Tamil Nadu, two days before his grandson’s wedding.2130 On 24 January 1997 the Tamil Nadu Assembly stood in silence for two minutes in his memory.30

Where the sources disagree

  • When his second term ended. Venkataramarao’s heading dates the term “3-12-1989 to 7-12-1990”.26 His text says Chenna Reddy resigned on 15 December 1990.29
  • When his successors took office. After his first term, Venkataramarao says T. Anjaiah was sworn in on 13 August 1980, though he dates Chenna Reddy’s resignation to 10 October 1980.531 Raghunadha Rao’s list of Chief Ministers gives 11 October 1980.1 After the second term, Venkataramarao says N. Janardhana Reddy took office on 17 December 1990, and Raghunadha Rao gives 22 December 1990.291

Footnotes

  1. Raghunadha Rao, Adhunika Andhrapradesh Charitra (1997), Appendix 3, list of Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, p. 369 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  2. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 286 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  3. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 320 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  4. Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Debates, 24 January 1997, condolence resolution on the death of Dr M. Chenna Reddy, speech of the Chief Minister, p. 17 (in Tamil) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  5. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 338 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  6. Raghunadha Rao, Adhunika Andhrapradesh Charitra (1997), p. 289 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  7. Research and Reference Division, India 1979: A Reference Annual (1979), p. 475, events of March 1978 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  8. G. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 263 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  9. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 294 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  10. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 301 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  11. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 302 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  12. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 309 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  13. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 311 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  14. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 312 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  15. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 313 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  16. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 317 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  17. Lok Sabha Debates, 25 July 1969, written answer to Starred Question 128, cols. 33–34 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  18. P. Raghunadha Rao, Adhunika Andhrapradesh Charitra (Telugu, revised edition 1997), p. 284 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  19. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 325 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  20. Raghunadha Rao, Adhunika Andhrapradesh Charitra (1997), p. 286 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  21. Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Debates, 24 January 1997, p. 18 (in Tamil) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  22. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 332 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  23. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 335 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  24. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 336 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  25. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 337 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  26. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 348 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  27. India 1990: A Reference Annual (1990), p. 863, events of 3 December 1989 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  28. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 349 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  29. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 350 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  30. Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Debates, 24 January 1997, p. 19 (in Tamil) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  31. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 339 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

References

Sources (6)
  1. G. Venkataramarao; C. Narayana Reddy (chief ed.) and J. Chennayya (ed.), Telangana Charitra (తెలంగాణ చరిత్ర) (opens in a new tab), Andhra Saraswata Parishat, Hyderabad, 2014, pp. 263, 286, 294, 301–302, 309, 311–313, 317, 320, 325, 332, 335–338, 348–350. Cite-only; paraphrased. In Telugu. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  2. P. Raghunadha Rao, Adhunika Andhrapradesh Charitra (ఆధునిక ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్ చరిత్ర), Telugu version of History of Modern Andhra Pradesh (opens in a new tab), Sterling Publishers, New Delhi, 1997, pp. 284, 286, 289, 369. Cite-only; paraphrased. In Telugu. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  3. Lok Sabha, Written answers on the Telangana agitation and talks with its leaders (Lok Sabha debates, 25 July 1969) (opens in a new tab), Lok Sabha Secretariat, 1969, cols. 33–34. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  4. Research and Reference Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India 1979: A Reference Annual (opens in a new tab), Publications Division, New Delhi, 1979, pp. 475. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  5. Research and Reference Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India 1990: A Reference Annual (opens in a new tab), Publications Division, New Delhi, 1990, pp. 863. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  6. Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Condolence resolutions on the death of former Governor M. Chenna Reddy and member A. Periannan (Assembly debates, 24 January 1997) (opens in a new tab), Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, 1997, pp. 17–19. Cite-only; paraphrased. In Tamil. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]

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