Khammam: Kunja Bojji sets the bar high for aspirants

KHAMMAM: Despite winning three Assembly elections from the Bhadrachalam Assembly Constituency, he leads a simple and humble life. It is an usual practice for many legislators, who are elected to the Assembly, to start preparing heirs, earning money and ignoring their duty to the people. Many MLAs use their time as elected representatives to line their pockets. However, Kunja Bojji is an exception.  

There are many instances of leaders earning crores during their tenure as an MLA. But, Kunja Bojji is different from the other MLAs. It is the need of the hour for the current generation of MLAs to know about him. Bojji was elected from Bhadrachalam, in the 1985, 1989 and 1994 Assembly elections. 

Born in Adavi Venkannagudem in VR Puram mandal, Bojji joined CPI-M in 1970 and was elected as president to the VR Puram Samithi in 1981. Naxalites attacked him in 1985 when he and CPI-M leaders B. Bhishma Rao and B. Chander Rao went to Jeeduguppa to see the development work in 1985. Naxalites surrounded them and killed Bhishma Rao and B. Chander Rao and thrashed Bojji, who sustained serious injuries.

 “I was never disturbed with the incident and worked with more discipline for the people since then,” Bojji said. He created a record by winning a majority of 39,225 votes in 1994 from Bhadrachalam. 

No other MLA has ever got such a majority from 1952 to 2014. He does not own a house or a cell phone. One can contact him through the mobile phone of his daughter. 

Interestingly, he is campaigning for CPI-M candidate M. Babu Rao in the present elections at the ripe old age of 92 years. He used to get Rs 1,000 per month as remuneration as MLA in 1985 and he contributed Rs 200 for the party. Bojji rejected the housing site given by the government. The party workers used to get motivated by Bojji’s lifestyle. The former MLA had a lot of awareness on the issues of Adivasis in the area. He worked for setting up for primary health centres and schools in various Adivasi habitations.