Jubileenagar voters end 45-year rule of Rudra family in gram panchayat elections

In a historic election, Jubileenagar voters ended the Rudra family’s 45-year hold over the sarpanch post. Suddala Kamalakar defeated Rudra Ramu by 169 votes, promising development and reforms after decades of uninterrupted rule by the same family.

Karimnagar: Voters of Jubileenagar village in Karimnagar rural mandal took a decisive turn after a gap of 45 years, ending the uninterrupted hold of a single family over the sarpanch post.

Instead of reposing faith in members of the same family that had dominated local politics for over four decades, villagers elected a new face in the first phase of the gram panchayat elections held on December 11. Suddala Kamalakar was elected as sarpanch, marking a significant political shift in the village.

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Members of the Rudra family had been elected as sarpanches ever since the inception of the Jubileenagar gram panchayat in 1980. For the first time since then, the family was voted out of power.

When the gram panchayat was formed in 1980, Rudra Vishwanatham was elected as the first sarpanch and continued in the post till 1987. He was again elected for a second term and served until 1995.

During the third term, when the seat was reserved for BC Women, his wife, Subadra, contested and was elected as sarpanch. She continued in the post till 2001.

In 2001, their son Rudra Ramu was elected as sarpanch and worked for two consecutive terms. In 2013, the seat was reserved for SC General. Even then, Ramu was elected as deputy sarpanch. In 2019, Ramu’s wife Bharathi was unanimously elected as sarpanch, continuing the family’s dominance.

As the seat was reserved for BC General in the present elections, Ramu once again entered the fray. He was challenged by Suddala Kamalakar, who emerged as the winner.

The voters delivered a clear verdict, handing Kamalakar a decisive victory and delivering a major setback to the Rudra family. Kamalakar secured 526 votes, defeating Ramu, who polled 357 votes, with a majority of 169 votes.

Enthused by the unexpected victory, Kamalakar said he would focus on developing the village on all fronts, alleging that several areas had been neglected during the family’s 45-year rule. He thanked the villagers for placing their trust in him and assured them that he would live up to their expectations.