Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao, widely known as KCR, is a prominent Indian politician and the inaugural Chief Minister of Telangana. This post delves into his life, career, and significant contributions to Telangana’s political landscape.

Biography/Wiki, Caste

Born on February 17, 1954 (age 70 as of 2024), in Chinthamadaka village, Siddipet, Medak District, India, KCR holds a Law degree from Osmania University and a Master’s in Telugu Literature from the same institution. His political journey began in 1970, joining the Youth Congress in Medak District under Sanjay Gandhi’s leadership. Interestingly, he supported the Congress party during the Emergency of 1975.

KCR’s family background is rooted in Chinthamadaka village. He is the second youngest among eight siblings. His caste is Velama.

Family

KCR’s parents are Raghav Rao and Venkatamma. He married Shobha Rao on April 23, 1969. Their son, KT Rama Rao (KTR), serves as a Cabinet Minister and MLA, while their daughter, K Kavitha, is a Member of Parliament.

Career

KCR’s political ascent involved various roles. He served as Vice President of the State Youth Congress in Medak District (1982), and later joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1983. After several successful election campaigns as an MLA from Siddipet Constituency (1985-1999), he held ministerial positions in different governments.

• Minister of Drought & Relief under N. T. Rama Rao
• Transport Minister under Chandrababu Naidu
• Deputy Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly (2000-2001)

His resignation from the TDP led to the formation of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in 2001. He served as an MP and later played a crucial role in the formation of Telangana state, becoming its first Chief Minister on June 2, 2014.

Awards/Achievements

KCR’s achievements include the CNN-IBN Indian of the Year’s Popular Choice Award (2014) for his efforts in achieving Telangana’s statehood and the Global Agricultural Leadership Award (2017) for his contributions to farmers’ welfare.

Salary/Net Worth

His approximate salary is ?4,10,000. In 2014, his net worth was estimated to be around ?15 Crore. His assets reportedly include bank deposits, bonds, debentures, and shares.

Favourite Things

KCR’s personal preferences include Benson & Hedges cigarettes, reading, writing, poetry, and listening to music.

Facts

KCR’s political career includes several interesting facts:

• He has served as the President of the TRS multiple times.
• He is known for his belief in numerology and superstition.
• He is a great admirer of N.T. Rama Rao.
• He won both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in 2004.
• He launched significant initiatives like the Kaleshwaram irrigation project and Mission Kakatiya.
• He is proficient in English, Urdu, Telugu, and Hindi.

Additional Information

The following table summarizes key information about KCR’s political career: