Hyderabad: Several leaders from almost all political parties in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana state have been under medical treatment in the recent past. This has affected their ability to discharge their public duties.
TRS sources say that MLAs of the party — Mr D. Nagender, Mr M. Gopal, Mr G. Sayanna, Ms G. Sunitha, Mr Challa Dharma Reddy and Mr Chennamaneni Ramesh — and TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy and MLA Upender Reddy are suffering from some ailment or other. Yet, despite their health problems, they participated in the hectic campaigning for the Asse-mbly elections, and won.
Former MLC Nayani Narasimha Reddy, and former Congress MLA Mukesh Goud are also dealing with health issues as are Nandyal Lok Sabha MP S.P.Y. Reddy, TD MLA Bojjala Gopalkrishna Reddy and former Congress MLA Patil Venugopal in AP.
Kothakota Dayakar Reddy, a former Telugu Desam MLA, says political leaders have to be in the public eye if they want to survive in politics. With the introduction of new welfare schemes by the ruling governments in the two Telugu states, the aspirations and demands of the people have increased and this puts politicians under tremendous stress, causing health problems like diabetes and blood pressure.
Dr Hari Kishan B, senior general physician at Apollo Hospitals, says, “We have seen politicians getting stressed before election time when their schedules are hectic and there is heavy electioneering. Stress is a factor which affects all professions and hence, it is not only the politicians who suffer from it. Of late, many of them have become health-conscious and are self-motivated to take measures to manage their health.”
Diabetologist Dr G. Srini-vas says many politicians are “working towards maintaining good health. The ailments in some cases are severe because they have been ignored for long.”
