Veteran CPI leader Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy passes away

Hyderabad: Veteran Communist Party of India (CPI) leader and former MP Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy, passed away in Hyderabad on Friday night after a prolonged illness. He was 83.

Reddy twice represented Nalgonda in the Lok Sabha and served as the party’s general secretary.

Early life and political journey

Born in Kondravupalli village of Mahbubnagar district, Reddy began his public life as a student activist in Kurnool. Deeply influenced by Left ideology, he rose steadily within the ranks of the CPI, earning recognition for his commitment to grassroots struggles.

He went on to lead the party as its general secretary from 2012 to 2019, steering it through challenging times.

Parliamentary career

Reddy was elected to the Lok Sabha from Nalgonda constituency in 1998 and again in 2004.

During his tenure, he chaired the Parliamentary Committee on Labour, where he championed causes such as social security for workers, improved working conditions, and education for children of labourers.

His interventions made him a respected and articulate advocate for the working class.

Voice of the marginalised

A lifelong champion of workers, peasants and the underprivileged, Reddy remained an uncompromising advocate of social justice and secular values.

His leadership gave the CPI both visibility and credibility at the national level, while his work on the ground strengthened Left politics in Telangana.

Tributes across the spectrum

Condolences poured in from leaders across party lines:

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy called him a “towering leader who strengthened people’s struggles and democratic movements.”

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka hailed his rise “from a remote village to the national stage.”

BRS president K Chandrashekar Rao described him as a “son of Telangana soil” and a Marxist leader who stood firmly for the oppressed.

Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy noted that he had “left an indelible mark on national politics as a committed leader.”

A lasting legacy

With Sudhakar Reddy’s passing, India has lost not just a veteran parliamentarian, but also a stalwart of Left politics who dedicated his life to the cause of the downtrodden.

His work for the working class and his commitment to democratic values will remain an enduring part of his legacy, the CPI leader K Narayana said.