Jhansi Reddy, a prominent Congress ticket aspirant from the Palakurthi Assembly constituency in Telangana and an American citizen, has encountered a significant hurdle in her quest for Indian citizenship.
The Hyderabad District Collector has communicated to Reddy that her request for Indian citizenship cannot be considered at this time. This decision is based on the requirement that individuals must have resided in India continuously for a year immediately before applying for Indian citizenship, as outlined in Section 5 (1) (g) of the Citizenship Act, 1955. Reddy entered India on June 16, 2022, but her stay did not meet the mandatory 12-month duration required for citizenship eligibility.
However, the District Collector has informed Reddy that she can re-apply for citizenship once she fulfills all the conditions outlined in the Indian Citizenship Act, 2009.
Jhansi Reddy, a notable figure in the Telugu NRI community, is the founder and president of the U.S.-based organization Women Empowerment Telugu Association. The organization is dedicated to creating opportunities for women and has been involved in philanthropic activities.
Reddy had actively campaigned in the Palakurthi constituency with the expectation of receiving a Congress ticket for the upcoming elections. The Palakurthi constituency is currently represented by BRS leader and Minister for Panchayat Raj, E. Dayakar Rao. The setback regarding her citizenship aspirations adds a new dimension to the political landscape in the region.
It appears that Jhansi Reddy isn’t giving up hope, as she continues to actively engage in political activities within her constituency. Today, she shared some photos and posted on her Facebook wall:
“Today, leaders from the TRS party in Ayyangaripalli village, Palakurthi Mandal, Janagama district, including village vice sarpanch Gone Venkatalakshmi Damodar, ward member Vadlakonda Ashok, village party president Kamalakar, ex-ward member Ponnala Venkanna, and Vadlakonda Anjaneyulu have joined the Congress party under the guidance of Palakurthi constituency candidate Jhansi Reddy.
Despite her recent setback regarding her Indian citizenship application, Jhansi Reddy remains active in the political arena, engaging with local leaders and her constituents.
