Gaddam Venkat Swamy, a senior politician from the Congress Party, passed away on Monday at Care Hospitals, Banjara Hills. Born on 5 October 1929, held several offices in the Government of India as well as in the Congress Party, including union minister for several important portfolios. He represented Peddapalli for the Parliament.
Venkat Swamy was elected to Lok Sabha 7 times and twice for AP Assembly. Popularly known as Gudisela Venkataswamy, he was close to both Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.
Both his sons Gaddam Vinod, former MLA and Gaddam Vivekananda, former MP from Peddapalli constituency, are now continuing his legacy in Congress Party. His son Vivekananda is an industrialist, own Visaka Asbestos and V6 Channel.
Position Held
• 1957- 62 and 1978-84 Member, Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly (two terms)
• 1967 Elected to 4th Lok Sabha
• 1969 – 71 Member, Public Accounts Committee
• 1971 Re-elected to 5th Lok Sabha (2nd term)
• Feb. 1973 – Nov. 1973 Union Deputy Minister, Labour and Rehabilitation
• Nov. 1973-March 1977 Union Deputy Minister, Supply and Rehabilitation
• 1977 Re-elected to 6th Lok Sabha (3rd term)
• 1978 – 1982 Cabinet Minister, Labour and Civil Supply, Andhra Pradesh
• 1982 – 1984 President, P.C.C.(I.), Andhra Pradesh
• 1989 Elected to 9th Lok Sabha (4th term)
• 1990 – 1991 Member, Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Industry
• 1991 Re-elected to 10th Lok Sabha (5th term)
• 21June1991-17Jan.1993 Union Minister of State, Rural Development[1]
• 18Jan.1993-10 Feb.1995 Union Minister of State, Textiles (Independent Charge)
• 10 Feb.1995-15 Sep.1995 Union Cabinet Minister, Textiles
• 15 Sep.1995-10 May1996 Union Cabinet Minister, Labour
• 20 Feb. 1996-16 May1996 Union Cabinet Minister, Labour and Textiles
• 1996 Re-elected to 11th Lok Sabha (6th term)
• 2002-2004 President, A.I.C.C. (SC&ST)
• 2004 Re-elected to 14th Lok Sabha (7th term)
• 2009 No ticket to 15th lok Sabha
• Deputy Leader Congress Parliamentary Party, Lok Sabha
• Member, Committee on Energy
• Member, Committee on Installation of Portraits/Statues of National Leaders, Parliamentarians in Parliament House Complex
• Member, Committee on Ethics
• Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Heavy Industries
• 5 Aug. 2007 onwards Member, Standing Committee on Energy
