Dansari Anasuya (born 9 July 1971), commonly known as Seethakka, is an Indian politician currently serving as a Cabinet Minster for Panchayati Raj & Rural Development, Rural Water Supply, Women and Child Welfare in Government of Telangana. She represents Mulug assembly constituency in the Telangana legislative assembly. She was elected to Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 2009 and Telangana Legislative Assembly in 2018 and 2023.^[1][2][3] She was appointed general secretary of All India Mahila Congress in June 2018^[4] and in August 2019 became state in-charge of Chhattisgarh Mahila Congress.^[5] She is sometimes referred to as 'Iron Lady of Telangana'.^[6]

Early life and background

She was born to Adivasi Koya tribe family in Jaggannapet village. Anasuya was a Naxalite before joining politics. She joined the Janashakti Naxal group when she was 14 years old in 1987. She was quickly disillusioned with the movement and exited it after an eleven-year stint. She surrendered to the police under the general amnesty plan in 1997. She then pursued her studies and became a lawyer. In 2022, she completed her Ph.D. in political science from Osmania University.^[7][8][9]

Political career

Anasuya first entered politics in 2004 when she joined the Telugu Desam Party and contested unsuccessfully from Mulug.^[10] She contested from it again in 2009, winning the constituency, and defeating Congress candidate Podem Veeriah by a huge margin. She lost the constituency in 2014 to BRS candidate Azmeera Chandulal.

In 2017, Anasuya left the TDP and joined the Congress, soon becoming general secretary of All India Mahila Congress and later state in-charge for Chhattisgarh Mahila Congress. She won the elections for Mulug constituency in 2018 and 2023 as a Congress candidate.^[11]

On 7 December 2023, she took oath as a cabinet minister in Telangana.

Currently Seethakka is serving as a Cabinet Minister for Panchayat Raj & Rural Development, Rural Water Supply, Women and Child Welfare in Government of Telangana from 7th December 2023.

Relief in lockdown

Anasuya had visited over 400 villages near the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border in 2020 during lockdown, providing relief to locals, distributing rice, dal etc., commodities and masks to people in need. Her efforts received tremendous support on social media, “I am doing this as my duty towards my people, for my own satisfaction,” said Anasuya. “There is no support from the TRS government. I could do all this because of donations and support of like-minded individuals.”^[12]

References