Lagadapati Rajagopal
Indian politician
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Lagadapati Rajagopal (born 1964)[1] is an industrialist and former[2] politician. He was the 15th Lok Sabha MP from the Vijaywada constituency for Indian National Congress.[3][4] He resigned from Parliament and quit politics after the Telangana Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha.[2] Rajagopal is the principal shareholder of Lanco Infratech.[5][6]
Lagadapati Rajagopal | |
|---|---|
| |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 22 May 2004 – 19 February 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Gadde Ramamohan |
| Succeeded by | Kesineni Srinivas |
| Constituency | Vijayawada |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1964 (age 61–62) |
| Party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse | Padma Sri Lagadapati |
| Children | 3 sons |
| Parent(s) | Lagadapati Ramanaidu Lagadapati Ramalakshmamma |
| V R Siddhartha Engineering College Loyola Public School, Guntur | |
| Profession | Industrialist |
History
He is the son of L. Ramalakshmamma and L.V. Rama Naidu,[7] a contractor.[1] He went into the family business after attending V R Siddhartha Engineering College, where he was suspended for 1 year.[1]
He married the daughter of politician Parvathaneni Upendra. He started two companies, one in the pig iron business and one in the power industry.[1]
In 2004, he ran for office in the Vijayawada district, the seat previously held by Father-in-law Upendra, and became a member of Parliament.[1] He has been a prominent anti-Telangana voice.[1] His company's headquarters have been moved to Delhi because the Hyderabad offices were deemed to be targets because of his anti-Telangana positions.[1]
On 13 February 2014, during a discussion of the Telangana Bill, L Rajagopal used pepper spray while on the floor which caused all the members of Parliament to vacate the building. He stated this was in "self-defence...I used the spray when I saw a colleague from a different party being manhandled".[8] He was suspended from Parliament by speaker Meira Kumar,[9] along with 4 other MPs.[10] Sharad Yadav, Janata Dal (United)'s President, called the actions "sedition".[10] Protests against his actions included burning Rajagopal effigy, and a boycott by lawyers in Warangal district.[11]
He tendered his resignation from Parliament in February 2014.[2]
Committee positions
While in Parliament, he has been on the following Committees:
- Committee on Urban Development
- Committee on Provision of Computers to Member of Lok Sabha, Offices of Political Parties and Officers of Lok Sabha Secretariat
- Committee on External Affairs
- Committee on Public Undertakings
- Committee on Home Affairs
- Consultative Committee for External Affairs
- Committee on Public Undertakings