Hyderabad, Oct 2 – Senior Congress leader and five-time MLA Ramreddy Damodar Reddy passed away late on Tuesday in Hyderabad after a prolonged illness. He was 73. A former minister in the Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy cabinet, Damodar Reddy was widely respected across party lines for his decades of service in Telangana politics.
A Life in Public Service
Born on 14 September 1952 in Lingala, Khammam district, Damodar Reddy began his career as a farmer before entering politics. He went on to represent the people of Thungathurthi and Suryapetconstituencies, winning five terms as MLA.
In the Congress government led by YSR, he served as Minister for IT & Communications and later Youth Services & Sports, contributing to both the state’s digital growth and youth welfare programs. Known for his grassroots connect, he was also one of the Congress leaders who consistently voiced support for Telangana statehood.
Illness and Passing
In recent years, Damodar Reddy had been suffering from kidney-related ailments. Despite treatment at home and later in a private Hyderabad hospital, he succumbed on October 1, 2025. His last rites will be performed in Thungathurthi on October 4, according to his family.
Outpouring of Tributes
Political leaders, colleagues, and admirers expressed grief over his passing:
- Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy called him “a senior statesman who dedicated his life to the Congress party and people’s welfare.”
- Sridhar Babu, senior Congress leader, remembered him as “a guiding elder whose political wisdom inspired generations of party workers.”
- MLA Seethakka wrote: “In this hour of grief, I extend my deepest condolences to the family members, admirers, and well-wishers of Ramreddy Damodar Reddy.”
- Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, YSR Congress Party president and former Andhra Pradesh CM, also mourned his demise. He tweeted that Damodar Reddy’s death was a deep shock and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
- Leaders from BRS and other opposition parties also paid homage, highlighting the respect Damodar Reddy commanded across political divides.
On social media, local Congress workers fondly remembered him as “Tiger Damodar Reddy,” a leader known for courage, clarity, and compassion.
Legacy
Ramreddy Damodar Reddy’s journey—from farmer to five-time MLA and state minister—reflects a career rooted in loyalty, grassroots connect, and regional advocacy. His contribution to IT development, sports promotion, and Telangana’s political identity will remain part of his enduring legacy.
As Telangana mourns his passing, one sentiment is clear: his absence leaves a void that will not be easily filled in Congress politics and in the hearts of the people of Suryapet and Nalgonda.