D. K. Aruna

Dharmavarapu Kottam Aruna (born 4 May 1960) is an Indian politician from Telangana state. She served as a minister in Andhra Pradesh for Information and Public Relations in Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy's cabinet (2004–2009) and for Small Scale industries, Sugar, Khadi and Village Industries in Rosaiah's cabinet (2009–2010). She represented Gadwal constituency as an MLA in Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly between 2004–2014 and in Telangana Legislative Assembly between 2014 and 2018.

Aruna won the 2004 election under Samajwadi Party but later joined the Indian National Congress. She joined Bharatiya Janata Party in 2019 and was appointed its National Vice President in September 2020. Member of parliament Constituency-Mahabubnagar.

Early life DK Aruna was born on 4 May 1960 to Ch. Narsi Reddy. She is married to D.K. Bharathsimha Reddy and has three children.

Aruna studied science up to Intermediate. She married into a family of politicians and Congress members aged 16.

Her father-in-law, D.K. Satya Reddy, her husband D.K. Bharatha Simha Reddy, and her brother-in-law D.K. Samara Simha Reddy have all been involved in politics. Her father Chitlem Narsi Reddy, brothers Chitlem Venkateswar Reddy and Chitlem Ram Mohan Reddy are congress workers and legislators.

Her father and brother, Venkateswar were assassinated by Maoists on Independence Day in 2005 while attending the celebrations at Narayanpet.

Her entry into public life happened after becoming involved with "grievance redressal" sessions held at the house of her husband's family.

Political career

Losing her first few elections by narrow margins, she was MLA from Gadwal constituency of Mahaboobnagar district for the first time in 2004.

In 2004, D.K. Aruna won representing the Samajwadi Party and subsequently represented Congress in the 2009 elections. and later a two-day hunger strike to protest against the State government's refusal to form Gadwal as part of a new district in September 2016.

In 2018, Aruna lost 2018 Telangana Legislative Assembly election from Gadwal to her nephew Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy of Telangana Rashtra Samithi.

In March 2019, she joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and she contested 2019 Lok sabha elections from Mahabubnagar constituency where she lost by 77,829 votes.

In September 2020, She was appointed Vice President of Bharatiya Janata Party.

Electoral history

Year Constituency Party Votes % Opponent Result Margin 1996 Mahabubnagar TDP 2,11,402 — Mallikarjun Goud (INC) Lost -3,700 1998 INC 2,16,161 — S. Jaipal Reddy (JD) Lost -31,500 1999 Gadwal 43,261 — Ghattu Bheemudu (TDP) Lost -4,546 2004 SP 80,676 — Ghattu Bheemudu (TDP) Won 38,686 2009 INC 63,433 — Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy (TDP) Won 10,331 2014 83,355 — Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy (TRS) Won 8,260 2018 71,967 — Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy (TRS) Lost -28,445 2019 Mahabubnagar BJP 3,33,573 33.88% Manne Srinivas Reddy (TRS) Lost -77,829 2024 5,10,747 41.66% Challa Vamshi Chand Reddy (INC) Won 4,500