Who is Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao (KTR)? - Telangana Minister and TRS Working President

Early Life and Education

Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao, commonly known as KTR, was born on July 24, 1976, in Siddipet, Telangana, India, to K. Chandrashekar Rao and Shobha Rao. His father, K. Chandrashekar Rao, is the founder of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) party and the first Chief Minister of Telangana state.

KTR completed his early education at St. George's Grammar School in Hyderabad. He then pursued his Bachelor's degree in Microbiology, Chemistry, and Botany from Nizam College, Osmania University, Hyderabad, graduating in 1996. KTR went on to earn a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Biotechnology from the Department of Management Sciences (PUMBA) at Savitribai Phule Pune University in 1998.

To further his education, KTR moved to the United States and obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in Marketing and E-Commerce from the Zicklin School of Business, City University of New York, in 2000.

Early Career

After completing his MBA, KTR worked in the United States as a Regional Sales Director at INTTRA, a leading e-commerce platform for the ocean shipping industry, from 2001 to 2006. During this period, he gained valuable experience in the corporate sector.

Entry into Politics

In 2006, KTR decided to return to India and join the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) party, which was founded by his father, K. Chandrashekar Rao, to fight for the creation of a separate Telangana state. He began working closely with his father and actively participated in the Telangana statehood movement.

Political Career

Member of Legislative Assembly (2009-2014)

KTR contested the 2009 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections from the Sircilla constituency and emerged victorious, becoming a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). He resigned from his seat on February 14, 2010, as part of the Telangana statehood agitation but was re-elected on July 30, 2010.

Minister in Telangana Government (2014-present)

After the formation of Telangana state in 2014, KTR was appointed as the Minister for Panchayat Raj, Information Technology, and Rural Development in the Telangana government led by his father, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. He served in this position from 2014 to 2016.

In 2016, KTR's portfolio was expanded, and he was appointed as the Minister for Information Technology, Municipal Administration & Urban Development, Industries & Commerce, Mining, and NRI Affairs. He held these positions until 2018.

Following the 2018 Telangana Legislative Assembly elections, KTR was re-elected as an MLA from Sircilla and was appointed as the Minister for IT, Industries & Commerce, and Municipal Administration & Urban Development in the second term of the TRS government.

Working President of TRS (2018-present)

In 2018, KTR was appointed as the Working President of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) party by his father and party president, K. Chandrashekar Rao. In this role, KTR has been actively involved in strengthening the party organization and leading the party's campaign strategies.

Notable Contributions

As a minister in the Telangana government, KTR has been instrumental in promoting the state's IT and industries sectors. He played a key role in the establishment of T-Hub, India's largest startup incubator, in Hyderabad. KTR has also been actively involved in attracting investments to Telangana and has successfully brought several major companies to set up their operations in the state.

Under KTR's leadership, the Telangana government has launched several initiatives for urban development and municipal administration, such as the Haritha Haram program for increasing green cover and the Dignity Housing scheme for providing affordable housing to the urban poor.

KTR is known for his active presence on social media platforms, where he frequently engages with citizens and addresses their concerns. He is also fluent in multiple languages, including Telugu, English, Hindi, and Urdu.

Personal Life

KTR is married to K. Shailima, and the couple has two children. His sister, K. Kavitha, is a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) of Telangana and a former Member of Parliament (MP) from the Nizamabad constituency.

With his dynamic leadership, vision for development, and strong connect with the people, Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao (KTR) continues to play a significant role in shaping the future of Telangana state and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) party.