Panchumarti Anuradha, who was the youngest Mayor in 2000 in world, is appointed chairperson of the Andhra Pradesh Women’s Co-operative Finance Corporation, Ltd. Anuradha is now general secretary and spokeswoman of the Telugu Desam. A post-graduate in journalism, she entered Telugu Desam in 2000 and got elected to the Vijayawada municipal corporation as the chairperson in direct election.
Though the TDP lost in the wards in corporation, as Chairperson, Anuradha won with a majority of about 6000 votes. Her entry into politics is an accidental affair. Having seen the reports in newspapers that the TDP was on the lookout of BC woman candidate for Vijayawada Municipal corporation, she sent in an application to the local TDP office for fun. Having gone through her letter of interest, the party leadership found something interesting around her and called her for an interview.
The then chief Minister Naidu found her eminently qualified for the mayor post and announced her candidature immediately. Though in the 50 division-municipal council the TDP won just nine seats, she became the darling of Vijayawada electorate. Limca Book of records praised her as the youngest mayor in the world. She was just 26 when elected Mayor.
As a mayor too, she won kudos from all sections of people. She got a chance to deliver a lecture to IAS probationers at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration , Mussoorie, a rare honor for any women elected representative. She spoke on ‘ Relations between politicians and Bureaucracy’.
The other members (directors) of the governing body of APWCFCL are :Burja Lakshmi, G Meghala Devi, Masala Padmaja, Chitrachedu Visalakshi and Rajeswari Devi.
