Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao

Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao, better known as Uma, is an Indian politician and farmers' leader in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. He was elected to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly for four terms (20 years), in 1999, 2004 , 2009 and 2014. Elected first in 1999 from the Nandigama Constituency, and then in 2009 and 2014 he was elected from the Mylavaram Constituency. He is the president of the Krishna District Telugu Desam Party. Uma is known for his articulate speeches in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly and for leading several agitations in support of farmers.^[1]

Currently he is serving as Minister for Irrigation, Command Area Development & Water Resources Management in Nara Chandrababu Naidu Government.^[2]

Samaykhya Andhra Movement

Uma Maheswara Rao was one among the leaders who participated in the Samaykhya Andhra Movement from day one. Uma submitted resignation to Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker soon after the Federal Government of India declared the process to begin the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh State. Uma declared on 9 December 2009 that he would sit fast-unto-death until the central government changed its plans for bifurcation of the state.^[3]

Uma's health condition was serious as of December 21, 2009.^[4] Doctors at Government Hospital at Vijayawada said Devineni Uma could slip into serious health condition that is unrecoverable and also possible that he could slip into coma if Uma do not consume solid food immediately.^[5] At one point of time Umamaheswara Rao's health condition rapidly deteriorated and shows signs of cardiac complications and was forcefully shifted to the NRI Hospital in Guntur district despite a stiff resistance put up by his supporters. The doctors of Government General Hospital at Vijayawada where he was forcibly administered fluids to break his indefinite fast impressed upon the officials and the police that he would have to be attended by cardiac specialists and his condition needed immediate attention.

On 23 December 2009, the central government stated that bifurcation of the state can happen only after reaching consensus among all political parties and groups within the state.

Loyal Leader

With commitment and trust to Chandra Babu Naidu, Uma stood with TDP and played key role along with Payyavula Keshav, Revanth Reddy and TDP other leaders. He fought against corruption, crime and wrong doing by Jagan family and Congress leaders in 10 years of devastating rule by Congress party in AP. He played instrumental role in assembly and outside to unearth the scam called "1-lakh crores scam" by Jagan and his father.

He stood with Chandra Babu Naidu in difficult situations for party and had shown the courage along with Payyavula Keshav, Paritala Sunitha, Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy, Dhullipalla Narendra, Revanth Reddy, Mothkupalli Narsimlu, Yerram Naidu and others.

Personal life

After his brother, Devineni Venkata Ramana, died, Uma took care of his brother's daughters Snigdha and Prajna. snigdha and prajna are unidentical twins

References