Manda Jagannath (sometimes rendered as “Jagannadham”) was a physician-turned-politician from Telangana who represented the Nagarkurnool constituency in the Lok Sabha across multiple terms, and whose career was marked by party shifts, medical practice, and controversy. He passed away on 12 January 2025.
Early Life, Education and Medical Career
Born on 22 May 1951 in what was then Hyderabad State (now Telangana), in the Mahbubnagar region, Jagannath pursued medical studies at Osmania University. He earned a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree and later additional postgraduate credentials including MS and DLO (Otolaryngology) from Osmania Medical College and University.
Before his full immersion into politics, he practiced medicine in the Mahbubnagar and Hyderabad areas. His background as a doctor remained a recurring element in his public image and political appeals.
Political Career: Wins, Defections, and Constituency
Jagannath’s entry into electoral politics was successful. He was elected to the 11th Lok Sabha in 1996 from Nagarkurnool, and later to the 13th (1999), 14th (2004), and 15th (2009) Lok Sabha from the same constituency. Over his time in Parliament, he was associated with several major parties: Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Indian National Congress, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), and eventually Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
One notable episode was his disqualification from the Lok Sabha while with the TDP, after voting against the party’s whip — a move that underlined intra-party dissent and the fragility of party discipline.
In 2009, he contested and won under the Congress banner, positioning himself as a voice for the Telangana cause in Parliament. Later, during the movement and after Telangana’s formation, he joined TRS, though was denied a ticket in 2019. Subsequently, in 2022 he was appointed as the state government’s Special Representative in New Delhi. In 2023, he switched again — leaving BRS (formerly TRS) and rejoining Congress, and later moving to the BSP when Congress declined to offer him a ticket.
His electoral journey was not without controversy. In July 2009, he was reported to have slapped a manager of Andhra Grameena Vikas Bank in Mahabubnagar — an act that drew media coverage and public scrutiny.
During his last known contested election (2014), he ran under the TRS, though was unsuccessful.
Passing and Aftermath
Manda Jagannath died on 12 January 2025 at the age of 73, while being treated at Hyderabad’s Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS). Reports indicated that his hospitalisation began on 22 December 2024 following pulmonary edema and a cardiac arrest.
His death prompted condolences from political figures across Telangana and beyond, including state leadership and former parliamentary colleagues. He is survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.
Assessment and Legacy
Manda Jagannath’s career exemplifies the complex nature of regional politics in India — a medical professional who leveraged social capital and local connectivity to win elections while shifting allegiances among major parties. His pivoting across TDP, Congress, TRS, and eventually BSP suggests both political ambition and the challenges of securing stable party support in a dynamic regional environment.
On one hand, constituents might value his medical background and repeated electoral wins; on the other, frequent party switches raise questions about ideological consistency and political opportunism. His involvement in a public altercation in 2009 also detracted from his public image.
In terms of lasting influence, Jagannath’s repeated representation of Nagarkurnool connects him intimately with the political history and evolution of Telangana’s parliamentary politics. But whether his legacy endures in policy, institutional reform, or regional development remains a more open question.
also read:Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao: Telangana’s First Chief Minister
Last Updated on: Sunday, October 5, 2025 4:00 pm by News Trail Team | Published by: News Trail Team on Sunday, October 5, 2025, 4:00 pm | News Categories: Lifestyle
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