Bezawada Ramachandra Reddy - Politician of the Justice Party and one of the founders of the Swatantra Party

Bezawada Ramachandra Reddy (Telugu: బెజవాడ రామచంద్రారెడ్డి) CBE (November 24, 1894 – March 3, 1973) was an Indian politician of the Justice Party and one of the founders of the Swatantra Party. He served as the President of the Madras Legislative Council from 1930 to 1937. Ramachandra Reddy is a relative of Indian National Congress politician Bezawada Gopala Reddy

Self Portrait.

Bezawada Ramachandra Reddy
Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) for Nellore
In office 1952–1957
Prime Minister	Jawaharlal Nehru
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	Rebala Lakshminarasa Reddy
President of the Madras Legislative Council
In office November 6, 1930 – July 18, 1937
Preceded by	V. S. Narasimha Raju
Succeeded by	Bulusu Sambamurti
Personal details
Born	November 24, 1894
Died	March 19, 1973 (aged 78) Buchireddipalem, Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh
Nationality	Indian
Political party	Justice Party, Independent, Swatantra Party
Spouse(s)	Bezawada Seethamma and Bezawada Bujjamma
Profession	Agriculturist/Politician

Early life

Ramachandra Reddy was born on November 24, 1894 to Sri Subba Reddy & Kamala (Dodla)in Buchireddipalem in the Madras Presidency.^[2] He graduated from the Madras University in 1919 and immediately entered politics serving for a while as the President of the District Educational Council, Nellore. In 1929, he was elected President of the district board.

Marriage

He married Dodla Sita, who gave him one male child who was named after his father Subba Reddy. On the death of first wife Sita who died post delivery, he married her half sister Dodla Bujjamma, who gave him 10 children, 5 sons & 5 daughters.

In the Legislative Council

Reddy joined the Justice Party at an early age and won the 1923 elections.^[3] He also won the subsequent elections in 1926, 1930 and 1934. When the Justice Party captured power in the Presidency after a four-year long gap, Reddy's name was proposed for election as President of the Council. He was elected and served as the President of the Madras Legislative Council from November 6, 1930^[4] to March 1937. Reddy resigned as Speaker following his defeat in the 1937 elections.
Reddy dissented with Periyar when he converted the political party into the Dravidar Kazhagam.^[5] Reddy was first elected President of the Justice Party soon after the split in 1944 before the mantle passed on P. T. Rajan.^[5] Reddy finally quit the party in 1952.^[3]
In 1952, Reddy contested the First Lok Sabha elections as an independent from Nellore and was successful. He served as a Member of the Lok Sabha from 1952 to 1957.

Swatantra Party

On June 4, 1959, along with C. Rajagopalachari & N G Ranga and other senior politicians, Reddy floated the Swatantra Party. A party whose ideology was finally accepted by modern India when it started its liberalisation policy in the year 1991.

Champion of Liberalisation

He always believed in enterprise and promoted the idea of setting up business. He served on the boards of many companies as an independent director upon the invitation of the promoters. He was on the board of Madras Cements, Andhra Scientific Company, Machilipatnam. Personally he never believed in putting his money in industry, as he always believed his roots are in agriculture and he should always be only an agriculturist.

Death

Reddy died on March 19, 1973.^[6]