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Mandali Buddha Prasad(MLA)
Mandali Buddha Prasad (born 26 May 1956) is an Indian politician, social worker, and former Deputy Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. A dedicated follower of Gandhian principles, he is admired as a leader with a service-oriented approach and a national outlook.
Born into a family with deep cultural and social roots, Buddha Prasad developed an early interest in public service, literature, and the promotion of Telugu culture. Over the years, he emerged as one of the prominent leaders known for his simplicity, integrity, and people-centric politics.
He is especially celebrated for his love and commitment towards the Telugu language and culture. Throughout his career, he has championed various initiatives for the preservation, promotion, and global recognition of Telugu heritage. His efforts extend beyond the boundaries of Andhra Pradesh, focusing also on the welfare of Telugu people living across India and abroad.
As a political leader, Buddha Prasad has consistently advocated for social justice, rural development, education, and cultural awareness. His work reflects a unique blend of public service and cultural responsibility, making him stand out as a statesman who views politics as a means to serve people and preserve values.
Early Life and Education
He was born on 26 May 1956 in Nagayalanka, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, to Sri Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao and Smt. Prabhavathi Devi. His father, a staunch Gandhian and social worker, greatly influenced young Buddha Prasad’s values of simplicity, service, and integrity.Buddha Prasad completed his primary and high school education at Avanigadda in Krishna District. He later pursued higher education at Osmania University, Hyderabad, where he graduated and began shaping his vision of combining public service with cultural preservation.
As an M.L.A.
He was elected as a Member of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly from Avanigadda Constituency of Krishna District for four terms during 1999, 2004, 2014 and 2024 and could get sanctions of 700.00 crores for the development works in the constituency as on date.
As a Cabinet Minister
He dealt with the portfolio of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries during 2007–2009. As a cabinet minister he has formulated many innovative schemes like ‘Pashukranthi’ to benefit poor people and small farmers with hybrid animals on subsidy rates and “Matsya Kranti” by which fisheries women are benefitted.He established an Advanced Research Centre of Animal Husbandry with International standards at Pulivendula, Kadapa District and three super specialty Veterinary Hospitals each one at Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Pulivendula. A Fisheries Polytechnic College is established at Bhavadevarapally, Krishna District.
Development of Krishna District
Sri Mandali Buddha Prasad is in the forefront of the development of Krishna District, which is his native district. He was instrumental for modernization of Krishna Delta, construction of Puligadda–Penumudi bridge and Puligadda–Vijayawada river bund road. He played an important role for the establishment of Krishna University at Machilipatnam. As the convener of Krishna Delta Protection Committee, he led many movements for water supply to Krishna Delta for Irrigation purpose. For this cause, he underwent a seven-day hunger strike in September, 2004. He played a prominent role for sanction of Pulichintala – Polavaram Project.
Social service
In the 1977 Andhra Pradesh cyclone, nearly 10,000 people lost their lives. There were no traces of certain villages. He not only served the victims day and night but also worked as a secretary of The Deena Jana Samkshema Samithi and sheltered 120 orphan children and gave them food and education.
During the tsunami that hit the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh in 2005, rescue centres were established for the protection of coastal area with the co-operation of voluntary organizations. Whenever some natural calamity occurs, he used to stay with the victims and inculcated in them the confidence and took up the relief and rehabilitation programs.
Gandhian
His father Sri Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao established Gandhi Kshetram at Avanigadda during the year 1969 on the occasion of Gandhi Centenary Celebrations. Thus, he injected Gandhian principles from his childhood itself and he is striving hard to propagate them all along. He ran a monthly magazine “Gandhi Kshetram” for twelve years to propagate the Gandhian Principles.
To inculcate the Gandhian Principles in the youth, he conducted several workshops. Smt. Nirmala Gandhi, daughter-in-law of Mahatma Gandhi, Sri. Kanu Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and followers of Mahatma Gandhi like Prabhakarji, Prof. N. G. Ranga and Sri Vavilala Gopala Krishnaiah participated in these workshops and commended his work.
He also worked as a Secretary of Gandhian Institute of Social Services. He visited “Ponar Ashram”, met Acharya Vinobha Bhave and got his blessings.
Cultural field
He has been rendering yeoman services for the renaissance and to rejuvenate Telugu Culture. He took up several responsibilities in several activities.Conducted Krishna Mahotsavams and installed bronze statue of Sri Krishna Devaraya at Srikakulam in Krishna District.Conducted Divi Mahotsavams in Krishna District.Made efforts to develop the tomb of C P Brown in England with the help of London Telugu Association.President – First International Kuchipudi Dance Festival held in Cupertino, USA in 2008.Vice President and Chairman of Co-ordination Committee of 4th World Telugu Conference in 2012 at Tirupathi Chairman – World Telugu History Conference in London in 2013.
Vallabhaneni Balashowry(MP)
Vallabhaneni Balashowry (born on 18 September 1968) is a prominent Indian politician who has been actively involved in public life for several decades. He is currently serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Machilipatnam parliamentary constituency in Andhra Pradesh.
A leader known for his strong grassroots connection and dynamic approach, Balashowry is associated with the Jana Sena Party, a political party founded by actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan.
Over the years, he has earned recognition for his efforts to address the concerns of the people in his constituency, focusing on development, social welfare, and the empowerment of common citizens. Before his present role as MP from Machilipatnam, Balashowry also made his mark in the national political arena by representing the Tenali constituency as a Member of Parliament in the 14th Lok Sabha, where he contributed to parliamentary discussions, policymaking, and initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure and livelihoods.
With a career rooted in public service, Vallabhaneni Balashowry has consistently worked towards regional progress, uplifting rural communities, and bridging gaps between the government and the people. His political journey reflects a deep commitment to serving society, making him one of the notable leaders from Andhra Pradesh.
Early Life and Education
Vallabhaneni Balashowry was born on 18 September 1968 into a family with strong roots in Andhra Pradesh. From an early age, he displayed a keen interest in academics, social service, and leadership, which later paved the way for his political journey. He pursued his higher education in Andhra Pradesh and went on to obtain a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Public Administration, equipping him with a deeper understanding of governance, public policies, and administrative systems. His academic background gave him a strong foundation to engage with political and social issues more effectively.
During his student years, Balashowry was actively involved in cultural and leadership activities, which nurtured his communication skills and people-oriented approach. His interest in politics and social service gradually developed as he observed the challenges faced by rural communities in Andhra Pradesh. His educational experiences and early exposure to public issues inspired him to take up a career in public life, aiming to contribute toward development, social welfare, and the upliftment of underprivileged sections of society.
Political career
Balashowry entered active politics in the early 2000s and made a significant mark in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. Contesting as a candidate of the Indian National Congress from the Tenali parliamentary constituency, he achieved a decisive victory by securing 54.47% of the total votes polled, defeating the incumbent Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Ummareddy Venkateswarlu with a comfortable majority of 78,556 votes. This victory gave him an opportunity to represent Tenali in the 14th Lok Sabha, where he served as Member of Parliament and worked on various issues concerning the people until 2008, when the Tenali constituency was abolished and subsequently merged with the Guntur constituency as part of the delimitation process. After a gap, Balashowry re-emerged in the national political arena and successfully contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as a candidate of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) from the Machilipatnam constituency. In this election, he once again displayed his strong presence among the voters by securing 46.02% of the votes polled and defeating the then-incumbent TDP Member of Parliament Konakalla Narayana Rao with a margin of 60,141 votes. His tenure as an MP from Machilipatnam further strengthened his reputation as a leader committed to constituency development and regional progress. However, on 14 January 2024, Balashowry took a major political step by leaving the YSRCP. Within a few weeks, on 4 February 2024, he officially joined the Jana Sena Party in Amaravati, in the presence of party president Pawan Kalyan. Later, he contested again from Machilipatnam under the Jana Sena banner and emerged victorious, becoming not only the MP from Machilipatnam but also the Lok Sabha leader for the Jana Sena Party, marking an important milestone in his political career.