Magunta Subbarama Reddy

Indian politician

Magunta Subbarama Reddy

Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
1991-1995
Preceded by| Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy
Succeeded by| Magunta Parvathamma
Constituency| Ongole
Personal details
Born| (1947-11-26)26 November 1947
Nellore, Madras Presidency, Dominion of India (presently Andhra Pradesh, India)
Died| 1 December 1995(1995-12-01) (aged 48)
Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, India
Political party| Indian National Congress
Spouse| Magunta Parvathamma

Source: [1]

Magunta Subbarama Reddy (26 November 1947 – 1 December 1995) was an Indian politician, liquor baron, and newspaper publisher. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) representing Ongole in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India's Parliament, as a member of the Indian National Congress (INC).[1] Subbarama Reddy was also the owner of Udayam newspaper, which he acquired from its founder Dasari Narayana Rao in the early 1990s, and continued to oversee until its closure in 1995.[2] He was assassinated by Naxalites in 1995.[3][4]

He was the elder brother of Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, who also became a prominent politician and an MP.[5][6]

## Background

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Magunta Subbarama Reddy, originally from Nellore district, began his political career in the Prakasam district, representing the Ongole constituency as a member of the Indian National Congress. The Magunta family is known for their significant influence in the Prakasam and Nellore districts of Andhra Pradesh.[5]

## Politics

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In 1991, Subbarama Reddy contested and won the Lok Sabha seat from Ongole as a Congress candidate, marking his entry into national politics. His political legacy was continued by his family members, notably his widow, Magunta Parvatamma, who successfully contested the Ongole MP seat in 1996 as a Congress candidate after his death. In 1998, his brother, Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, also won the Ongole seat, further solidifying the Magunta family’s influence in Andhra Pradesh’s political landscape.[5]

## Publishing

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In 1991, Subbarama Reddy acquired Udayam, a prominent Telugu daily newspaper founded by filmmaker Dasari Narayana Rao. With ambitions to expand Udayam's reach across Andhra Pradesh, he also planned to revive the historic Andhra Patrika and launch a new English-language daily. To support these ventures, he invested in advanced printing technology. However, his publishing efforts faced financial strain due to the alcohol prohibition imposed in Andhra Pradesh, which heavily impacted his liquor business—a primary revenue source supporting his media investments. By 1995, Udayam had accumulated significant financial losses, a decline in readership, and substantial debt, leading to its closure on May 23, 1995.[2]

## Death

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On 1 December 1995, Subbarama Reddy, along with his gunman, Ch. Venkataratnam, were shot dead in the former's house by members of the People's War Group (PWG).[1][3][7]

In 2009, the Supreme Court upheld the life sentence of Patangi Balarama Venkata Ganesh for his role in the killing, citing strong evidence. However, the court dismissed the CBI's appeal against the acquittal of his co-accused, Vistaria Prakash, due to insufficient evidence.[7]

## References

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1. ^ a b "Supreme Court of India Pantangi Balarama Venkata Ganesh vs State Of A.P on 23 July, 2009". Indian Kanoon. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
2. ^ a b "Udayam closes due to losses, hopes of revival seem remote". India Today. 15 June 1995. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
3. ^ a b "Lifer for two for Magunta's murder". The Hindu. 5 August 2000. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013.
4. ^ K. K. Thomas (1996). Asian Recorder. Recorder Press. p. 25314.
5. ^ a b c తిరుమల బాబు (22 April 2024). "టీడీపీ ఎంపీ అభ్యర్థి మాగుంట ఇంట్లో విషాదం". Samayam (in Telugu). Retrieved 11 November 2024.
6. ^ Basava, Bhaskar (19 March 2024). "From Congress to TDP via YSRCP and excise scam: Magunta duo's political journey in Andhra". The South First. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
7. ^ a b "SC upholds life sentence of Maoist in ex-MP killing case". Hindustan Times. 27 July 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2021.

## External links

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* Official biographical sketch in Parliament of India website