Hyderabad:
A fascinating member of the Telangana Cabinet is Maoist-turned-MLA Danasari Anasuya, popularly known as Seethakka, whom Prime Minister Revanth Reddy calls his 'sister'. As someone who has taken up arms and renounced them, Seethakka's mission is to give youth access to education so they can rewrite their future.
Her journey from armed revolution to minister with a law degree – she received her PhD last October – has captured the imagination of the masses. So much so that when the new Congress government took oath at the LB Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday, the loudest cheers were reserved for it.
The 52-year-old tribal MLA from Mulugu has been entrusted with three crucial ministries: panchayat raj, rural development and women and child welfare.
Born to working-class parents, Seethakka had joined the Maoist movement at the age of 14 – long before she finished school. Over the years she rose to become Seethakka, a commander of the extremist group, went to prison and gave up everything in 1997.
While she was part of the movement, she gave birth to a son whom she and her husband had to give up. Those underground are not allowed to raise children. Her mother later tracked down the child and raised her herself.
Later, Seethakka gave up the left-wing extremist movement and parted ways with her husband due to “ideological differences”.
“I studied law… pleaded guilty in the same court where I once stood as an accused,” Seethakka told NDTV. She obtained her PhD from Osmania University in October last year and recently completed her LLM examination.
The big step – switching to politics – took place in 2004. She joined the Telugu Desam Party, where she met Revanth Reddy. The two share a close bond. Mr. Reddy calls her his sister.
Seethakka has been elected MLA from Mulugu thrice, first in 2009 on a Telugu Desam ticket and again in 2018 and 2023 under a Congress ticket from the same constituency.
Her work in the tribal areas of the state during crises such as floods and the Covid pandemic, walking miles through hilly and remote areas, has earned her respect and admiration from the people.