California Congress Politician Jhansi Reddy Denied Indian Citizenship

HYDERABAD, (IANS) – In a setback for Jhansi Reddy, a member of the Congress party, her application for Indian citizenship has been denied by Indian authorities. Jhansi Reddy, who holds American citizenship, had aspired to contest on the Congress ticket for the Palakurthi Assembly constituency.

The Hyderabad District Collector conveyed to Reddy that her request for Indian citizenship could not be entertained because she had not maintained continuous residence in India for a full year immediately preceding her application date. She had applied for Indian citizenship.

The District Collector’s communication indicated that although she entered India on June 16, 2022, she had not fulfilled the essential requirement of residing in India for a consecutive 12-month period before the application date, which is a mandatory condition for citizenship eligibility.

She was advised that she could reapply for Indian citizenship when she meets all the stipulated criteria as per the regulations outlined in the Indian Citizenship Act of 2009.

Jhansi Reddy is known for her role as the founder and president of the Women Empowerment Telugu Association, an organization based in the United States to  create opportunities for women. She has also been involved in philanthropic work in the Palakurthi constituency, which is currently represented by BRS leader and Minister for Panchayat Raj, E. Dayakar Rao.

In anticipation of receiving a Congress ticket, Jhansi had been actively campaigning in the Palakurthi constituency for the past several weeks.

Jhansi Reddy’s early life began in Choppakatlapalem, Khammam, where she was born. In 1977, she and her mother moved to the US following her father’s passing. In 1982, she married cardiologist Dr. Hanumandla Rajender Reddy of California.

She and her husband in 1992, they founded their own real estate business, with Jhansi serving as the CEO. Their initial investment was in a 32-unit apartment building in Berkeley, CA.

She has played an active role in various Telugu associations. She served as a member of the board of directors for the American Telugu Association from 2007 to 2009 and the North American Telugu Association from 2010 to 2014. Additionally, she served as the president of the Telangana American Telugu Association from 2015 to 2018.

The couple co-founded the Hanumandla Rajender and Jhansi Reddy Foundation, a non-profit organization engaged in philanthropic activities in the US and India. 

In 2006, they donated $1 million to establish a student health center at the University of California, Merced. They have also contributed $1 million to various service projects in rural villages in the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.