Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy, former CPI general secretary, passes away at 83

Former CPI general secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy passes away at 83.

Veteran leader and former general secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy passed away at the age of 83 at a private hospital in Hyderabad late night on Friday.

Reddy is survived by his wife, BV Vijayalakshmi, and two sons – Nikhil Reddy and Kapil Reddy.

“He breathed his last while undergoing treatment at Care Hospitals in Gachibowli, where he was admitted for age-related issues and breathing difficulties,” a family member said, according to a report by the Hindustan Times.

He had been undergoing treatment at a hospital in Hyderabad for age-related ailments.

Born on March 25, 1942, in Kondravpally village of Telangana's Mahabubnagar district, Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy's political journey began in his early years. He was drawn to left-wing ideology and played an active role in student movements, leading an agitation for basic amenities in schools in Kurnool when he was just 15.

He was a two-time Member of Parliament, representing the Nalgonda constituency in the 12th (1998-1999) and 14th (2004-2009) Lok Sabha. During his time in Parliament, he was a vocal advocate for workers' rights, social justice, and the well-being of farmers and marginalised communities.

Reddy was also known for his efforts to expose government corruption.

From 2012 to 2019, he served as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India, a position he held for three terms. Throughout his career, he was at the forefront of numerous mass struggles and was widely respected for his commitment to his principles and his simple, unassuming lifestyle.

His father, Suravaram Venkatrami Reddy, was a freedom fighter, and his uncle was poet and freedom fighter Suravaram Pratap Reddy, who fought against the oppressive feudal system prevailing under Nizam rule.