Sunnam Rajaiah, the Telangana MLA who comes to Assembly on auto or bus

Sunnam Rajaiah, the CPM MLA from Telangana's Bhadrachalam constituency, usually travels by public bus or auto even to attend Assembly sessions.

One evening at 4:30 pm he got down from an auto at the Telangana secretariat and requested the security to allow the auto in. The security refused to oblige even when Rajaiah said that he was an MLA and showed his identity proof. They could not believe that an MLA would come in an auto without any car or security. Even after arguing for 25 minutes they didn't allow him inside, and it was only when the media recognised and identified him that they allowed him to go in.

The security feared that MLA Rajaiah would complain about them to the Assembly Speaker and feared suspension but Rajaiah, speaking to the media later, said that he would achieve nothing by complaining about the security and taking away their livelihood. And many appreciated his way of handling the situation.

Rajaiah won the Bhadrachalam MLA seat thrice and doesn’t own a car till date. From his MLA salary of two-and-a-half lakhs, he gives half to the party while maintaining his expenses with the rest. He always travels in his constituency by auto or seated behind a two-wheeler.

He attends the Assembly sessions by travelling in RTC buses from Bhadrachalam to Hyderabad. While in Hyderabad he uses the bus facility when travelling from MLA quarters to the Assembly. Probably he is the only MLA in Telangana who uses public transport when coming to attend Assembly sessions.

There are very few leaders who live in such simplicity even when in power.

• Sunnam Rajaiah
• CPM