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Journalism of Courage
G M Harish, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)’s first-time MP from the Amalapuram constituency in Andhra Pradesh, was 11-year-old when his life changed after his father and then Lok Sabha Speaker G M C Balayogi was killed in a helicopter crash on March 3, 2002.
Over two decades later, Harish has set out to fulfil his father’s dreams – a railway line for Amalapuram to begin with. “I want to fulfil my father’s dreams and do more for the people of Amalapuram,” he told The Indian Express.
The 33-year-old Dalit leader is also aware of his “compelling responsibilities” as the Amalapuram MP. “I hope to work for the most backward communities in my constituency and the state,” he said.
Harish’s journey to the Lok Sabha has been long and arduous. “My mother was clear that my sisters and I needed to get a good education before doing anything else,” he recalled.
Following Balayogi’s death, his wife Vijayakumari contested the Amalapuram seat and won, but subsequently she decided to take a break from politics to raise her three daughters and Harish.
His mother’s “sacrifice” helped him and his sisters, said Harish. “It took more than a year for the family to come to terms with my father’s death,” he said.
Though he was interested in politics, Harish went on to pursue a degree in business management in 2011 and later worked for a Hyderabad-based company in the field of data analytics. “I travelled to many places, including the US, as a part of my work. These experiences shaped me,” he said.
All through his professional journey, Harish harboured the dream of becoming a political leader. “I had a connection with the people and also the urge to finish what my father had started,” he said.
In 2015, Harish approached TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu and party general secretary Nara Lokesh with his intention of entering politics. However, things were not offered to him on a platter. “I was asked to work behind the scenes for the party and was in the back office for a few years. Those were exciting times,” he said.
Harish used his data analytics experience to gauge the ground support for the party. “We even monitored how the TDP’s programmes and measures were being perceived by the general public,” he said.
Harish would have to wait for a few more years before coming into the limelight. However, during this time, he made it a point to participate in Naidu’s padyatras to get a feel of the ground realities. “Naidu and Lokesh mentored me. Without their guidance, it would have been difficult,” he stressed, adding mentors are necessary in politics. “Someone needs to trust you for you to make it big,” he said.
Harish made his electoral debut from the Amalapuram seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as a TDP candidate, but lost to the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP)’s C Anuradha by over 39,000 votes.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Harish was pitted against Rapaka Varaprasada Rao of the YSRCP, trouncing the latter by over 3.42 lakh votes. “I convinced the people that I was the right candidate if they wanted a change in governance. I also pushed the development agenda,” he said.
When Harish entered Parliament for the first time as an MP on June 24, he was reminded of his duties. “I was excited but also conscious of what I am expected to do as a lawmaker,” he said. As the TDP whip in the Lok Sabha, his first duty was to issue a three-line directive asking his party MPs to rally behind the NDA candidate for the Speaker’s post, Om Birla.
As the Amalapuram MP begins his political innings, he has a long way to go to fulfil Balayogi’s dreams. “My father’s legacy is not a burden for me. I am only humbled by it,” he said.
