Annabathuni Siva Kumar

Indian politician

Annabathuni Siva Kumar (born 1969) is an Indian politician from Andhra Pradesh. He is an MLA of YSR Congress Party from Tenali Assembly Constituency in Guntur District. He won the 2019 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Election.[1][2] He is nominated again by YSR Congress Party to contest the 2024 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Election.[3]

Early life and education

Kumar was born in Tenali to Annabathuni Satyanarayana, a former MLA from Tenali. He completed his B.A from ASN College, Tenali in 1991.[4]

Career

Kumar started his political career with Telugu Desam Party. Later in 2014, he joined YSR Congress Party and contested the 2014 Assembly election but lost from Tenali constituency. However, in the 2019 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Election he defeated Alapati Rajendra Prasad by a margin of 17,649 votes. In November 2023, he launched a programme called 'Good Morning Tenali', where he visited each ward to hear the grievances of the residents regarding civic issues and to inspect the 10 wards in his constituency.[5]

Controversy

Kumar was caught on camera slapping a voter on the election day on 13 May 2024 in a polling booth campus in Tenali.[6] The voter slapped back but a few followers of the MLA were seen physically assaulting the voter. It was reported that the voter objected to the MLA jumping the queue.[7] A case was registered on the MLA and his followers.[8] In a complaint to the police, the victim Gottimukkala Sudhakar alleged that the MLA and six of his followers have slapped and manhandled him.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Annabathuni Siva Kumar". PRS Legislative Research. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  2. ^ "Tenali Assembly Election 2024: Tenali Election Winning Candidates List, Election Date, Results, Vote Share New-IndiaToday". India Today. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  3. ^ Annam, Bandhavi (2023-10-25). "'Andhra Paris' set to witness tough fight". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  4. ^ "Annabathuni Siva Kumar | MLA | Tenali | Guntur | Andhra Pradesh". 2020-05-14. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  5. ^ archive, From our online (2019-11-30). "Initiative helps Tenali MLA reach out to public". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  6. ^ Sudhir, S. N. V. "Andhra Pradesh Assembly Elections 2024: Violence mars polling as state records over 78% voter turnout". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  7. ^ chandra.B, Sarath. "Voter slap to MLA: సంయమనం కోల్పోయిన ఎమ్మెల్యే.. తెనాలి ఎమ్మెల్యే అన్నాబత్తుని శివకుమార్‌కు చెంపదెబ్బ, ఈసీ ఆగ్రహం". Hindustantimes Telugu (in Telugu). Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  8. ^ a b Kandepu, Venkatesh (2024-05-14). "తెనాలి వైసీపీ ఎమ్మెల్యేపై కేసు, చెంప చెళ్లుమనిపించిన ఘటనలో షాక్". telugu.abplive.com (in Telugu). Retrieved 2024-05-16.