Hyderabad, August 23 (Special Correspondent): Veteran Communist Party of India (CPI) leader and former national general secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy passed away late on Friday night at a private hospital in Hyderabad. He was 83 and had been ailing for some time due to age-related health complications. His demise has left a deep void in the countryโs left-wing political landscape, where he was widely regarded as a principled leader and a relentless champion of workersโ and farmersโ rights.
A Life of Struggle and Leadership
Born on March 25, 1942, in Kondravpally village, Mahbubnagar district (now in Telangana), Sudhakar Reddy hailed from a modest family. He pursued his early schooling at Municipal High School and Coles Memorial High School in Kurnool, later graduating with a B.A. in History (1964). He obtained his LL.B. from Osmania University Law College, Hyderabad, in 1967.
His political instincts surfaced early. At just 15 years old, he spearheaded a school protest demanding basic educational facilities such as blackboards, chalk, and books โ an early glimpse of the activism that would shape his future.
Reddy formally entered politics in 1971 when he joined the CPI National Council. His rise in the party was rapid, owing to his organizational skills and ideological clarity.
Parliamentary Career
He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Nalgonda constituency in 1998 and again in 2004, serving two terms until 2009. In Parliament, Reddy emerged as a strong voice for the working class, championing the causes of farmers, labourers, and marginalized groups. As the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Labour (2004), he pressed for labour reforms, social security measures, and rights of unorganized workers.
His parliamentary speeches often centered on agrarian distress, industrial disputes, and resistance to privatization, which earned him respect even across political lines.
Role as CPI General Secretary
Reddyโs most prominent leadership phase came between 2012 and 2019, when he served as the CPIโs National General Secretary. During this period, he focused on revitalizing the party amid declining influence of leftist forces. He was instrumental in strengthening cooperation between the CPI and CPI(M), forging joint struggles against neoliberal economic policies.
Notable among his activism were the 2000 statewide protests against electricity tariff hikes in undivided Andhra Pradesh, where he successfully mobilized thousands of people. He also played a supportive role in the Telangana statehood movement, while continuing to highlight the class struggle as central to left politics.
Throughout his career, he consistently raised issues such as loan waivers, minimum support prices, better wages, and job security for informal workers. His speeches and writings, many of which appeared in the CPI journal New Age, combined Marxist theory with pragmatic coalition politics, making him a bridge between veteran communists and younger activists.
Reactions and Tributes
Condolences poured in from across the political spectrum.
- CPI National Secretary D. Raja described him as โa pillar of the communist movement whose commitment to the working class was unmatched.โ
- Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy hailed him as a strong supporter of the Telangana movement and a voice for the poor and marginalized.
- Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy and other BJP leaders praised his principled approach, even while acknowledging ideological differences.
- Congress MP Rahul Gandhi expressed grief, calling him โa tireless fighter for justice and equality.โ
- CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury paid rich tributes, noting that despite political differences, Reddy remained โa comrade in the broader left struggle.โ
Final Farewell
Reddyโs mortal remains were kept at the CPI State Headquarters in Hyderabad for party cadres and the public to pay homage. His funeral on Saturday afternoon was attended by hundreds of mourners, including leaders from various political parties, labour unions, and farmer associations. He was given full party honours.
He is survived by his wife and children.
A Lasting Legacy
Political observers believe his passing is a major setback for the Left movement in India, particularly in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, where the CPI once held strong influence. Senior journalists recalled that his political journey symbolized โan era when ideology outweighed opportunism.โ
As the nation continues to grapple with rising inequality and agrarian crises, Reddyโs legacy of unwavering advocacy for the underprivileged stands as a guiding light for progressive politics in India.
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