Gadwal Vijayalakshmi

Gadwal Vijayalakshmi is an Indian-born politician serving as the current mayor of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) since 11 February 2021. A former American citizen, she emigrated back to India to join politics[3] and went on to become the fifth woman mayor of Hyderabad and the first post formation of the state of Telangana.[4][5] She is a member of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party based in Telangana.

In this Telugu name, the person is referred to by her given name, Vijayalakshmi, and not by her surname, Gadwal.
Gadwal Vijayalakshmi
Vijayalakshmi in 2021
18th Mayor of Hyderabad
Assumed office
11 February 2021
DeputyMothe Sri Latha Reddy
Preceded byBonthu Rammohan
Personal details
Born (1964-06-21) 21 June 1964[1][2]
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, (present-day Telangana) India
CitizenshipIndia (till 1999; 2009–present)
United States (1999–2009)[3]
Political partyBharat Rashtra Samithi
SpouseBobby Reddy
Parent
Residence(s)Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Alma materBharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Sultan-ul-Uloom College of Law

Early life

Gadwal Vijayalakshmi is born to politician K. Keshava Rao and his wife Vasantha Kumar. Rao is a politician from Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) party and Member of Parliament who represented Andhra Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament.[2]

Vijayalakshmi married Bobby Reddy whom she met at ICRISAT tennis club.[6]

Education

Vijayalakshmi completed her secondary school from Holy Mary School, Hyderabad and Junior College from Reddy women's college, Hyderabad, Bachelors in Journalism from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Sultan-ul-Uloom Law College, Hyderabad.

She emigrated to the United States and obtained the US green card in 1988 following which she got married and settled there. Later, she took American citizenship in 1999.[4][3] While staying in North Carolina, United States Gadwal Vijayalakshmi worked at Duke University, cardiology department as research scholar.[2]

Political career

In the year 2004, she emigrated back to India and eventually left her American citizenship in 2009 to join politics.[7][4][3][8] In 2016 she contested as a corporator from the TRS party and won. In 2020 she contested from Banjara Hills ward as a corporator and won. On 11 February 2021, she is elected as the first woman Mayor after the formation of Telangana state in 2014.[9]

Controversies

Stray dog attack incident

On February 19, 2023, a tragic incident occurred in Hyderabad when a 4-year-old boy was fatally attacked by three stray dogs on a deserted street, with graphic footage circulating on social media.[10] The boy was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival.[11]

In response to the incident, as the mayor, Vijayalakshmi held a press conference on February 21,[12] confirming that the dogs involved had previously been sterilized as part of the GHMC's animal birth control program.[13] She suggested that the dogs might have become aggressive due to hunger, as a regular feeder in the area had been absent for two days. Vijayalakshmi emphasized the importance of dog adoption and announced plans to put up 600 dogs for adoption each month.

However, her comments faced backlash, particularly from the Congress party, which demanded her resignation and an ex-gratia payment of Rs. 50 lakh to the victim's family.[14] Additionally, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma criticized the mayor for her response and expressed frustration with the GHMC's handling of the situation.[15] The controversy continued to escalate, with Varma's comments gaining attention on social media.[16]

On March 7, Vijayalakshmi offered a Rs. 9.7 lakh ex-gratia payment to the grieving family of the young victim and reaffirmed efforts to address the issue of stray dogs through awareness programs and control measures.[17]

References
  1. "Hyderabad Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi plants saplings, donats blood on her birthday". The Hans India. 22 June 2021.
  2. "Mayor a highly educated and accomplished person". The Hindu. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  3. "Mayor post: Vijayalakshmi's citizenship under scrutiny". The Times of India. 8 February 2016.
  4. Vibhavari, Sruthi (11 February 2021). "From renouncing US citizenship to becoming Hyderabad mayor, the story of Vijayalaxmi". The Siasat Daily.
  5. "Twin posts held by women for first time". The Hindu. 12 February 2021.
  6. "GHMC Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi Love Story". Sakshi (media group). 14 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  7. "Quarterly Publication of Individuals, Who Have Chosen To Expatriate, as Required by Section 6039G". Federal Register. 26 February 2010. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  8. "Who is Gadwal Vijayalakshmi, Hyderabad Mayor Who Left US Citizenship To Enter Politics". Essel Group (India.com). 11 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  9. "Meet Hyderabad's First Ever Female Mayor G Vijayalakshmi". India Times. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  10. "Hyderabad: 4-year-old child bitten to death by street dogs, shocking incident caught on CCTV camera". The Economic Times. 21 February 2023. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  11. Bureau, The Hindu (21 February 2023). "Four-year-old boy mauled to death by stray dogs in Hyderabad". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  12. Bureau, The Hindu (21 February 2023). "Mayor of Hyderabad denies GHMC's responsibility". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  13. "Hyderabad Mayor Gadwal Vijayalaxmi orders probe into canine attack". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  14. "Dog menace in Hyderabad: Congress demands mayor's resignation".
  15. "RGV takes jab at GHMC Mayor Vijayalaxmi, asks her to be made 'international mayor of dogs'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  16. "Hyderabad Mayor Gadwal R. Vijayalakshmi feeding her pet goes viral".
  17. "Ex-gratia of Rs 9.7 lakh in dog bite death in Hyderabad". The Times of India. 7 March 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
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