Who is Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy: Early Career to VVPAT (EVM) Controversy
Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy was born in 1970 in Kandlakunta village, Veldurthi mandal, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh. His commitment to public service is deeply rooted in his early experiences and upbringing.
After the AP General Election 2024, he was trending on social media due to an incident involving a VVPAT (voter-verifiable paper audit trail) machine. On polling day, May 13, he was caught on camera destroying the VVPAT machine inside a polling booth in the Macharla constituency.
Early Life and Education:
- He was born in 1970 in Kandlakunta village, Veldurthi mandal, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh.
- His father’s name is Pinnelli Venkateswara Reddy.
- He completed his intermediate at SKRBR College in Narasaraopet and discontinued his B.Com degree from Andhra Christian College in Guntur in 1988.
Political Career:
- Reddy began his political journey with the Indian National Congress.
- He served as a member of the ZPTC (Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency) before becoming an MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) from Macherla, representing the Congress party.
- Later, he joined the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).
- He won the 2009 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Election from Macherla, defeating Julakanti Brahmananda Reddy of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
- He won the 2012 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly by-election from Macherla Constituency.
- He contested and also won the 2014 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Election.
- He was re-elected as an MLA from the Macherla constituency of Andhra Pradesh for the fourth time in 2019.
- In January 2020, he was allegedly attacked by unidentified protestors during agitations against the YSRCP’s announcement of three capitals for the state.
Net Worth (approx.): ₹8 crore (as of 2023-2024)
Controversies:
- In the 2024 Assembly General Election, Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy damaged an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at the Palvai Gate polling booth in Rentachintala mandal of Macherla assembly constituency.
- The incident was recorded on a web camera at the polling booth, and the Election Commission of India took serious note of it.
- Cases were filed against him under 10 sections.