VIJAYAWADA: Allagadda MLA Bhuma Akhila Priya, MLA, daughter of Bhuma Nagi Reddy, who recently passed away following a cardiac arrest, was sworn in as the youngest member of the State Cabinet, in the latest expansion.
She was overjoyed on being made the minister and having her father’s wishes getting fulfilled. Akhila Priya came along with her younger sister Bhuma Mounika and carried the photograph of her parents.
Speaking to Express, Akhila Priya said: “It's very unfortunate that I have to take responsibilities at this point of time, as I am very young and quite new to this stream. In fact, it was my father, who was supposed to be made the minister, for which he waited years together. My parents worked for decades for the development of our district. Now it is the time for me to take responsibility of the entire state not just Allagadda or Nandyal.”
No ministry in mind
On what ministerial portfolio she was expecting, Akhila Priya said she has no particular department in mind and she would go by what the party elders decide. “I am not guessing what portfolio I would get. I am ready to take any department. My only challenge is to serve people of the state and keep the promises made by my parents to the people of the state, especially my district,” she said.
The youngest minister said she feels blessed to have a huge number of followers and they are her family now. “They have supported every step of mine,” she said.
Akhila Priya said she was also happy to have been sworn in as the minister on the day she was born. She had celebrated her 30th birthday on Sunday. “This kind of birthday celebrations does not happen all the while. I am lucky to have it as my birthday gift,” she said, while exuding confidence of cooperation from other ministers, who all are her seniors in the party. She said she has freedom and good rapport with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to talk to him at any time of the day.
Ties with her parents
Speaking about the relationship and bonding she shared with her parents, she said that from her childhood onwards, she was more of her father’s girl. “I am daddy’s girl until the demise of my mother. I miss my mom a lot after her demise. And now I am missing them both. While taking oath, I remembered my father and it was hard concentrating on the words. I fumbled. Since last few days, I have been thinking of my father and missing him very much,” she concluded.
Akhila Priya has done her MBA from an Australian University and then looked after her family business of dairy. Following sudden demise of her mother Shobha Nagi Reddy, she contested the election and became an MLA.
