Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu

Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu

Rao Bahadur Sir Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu (Telugu:కూర్మా వేంకటరెడ్డి నాయుడు) (b. 1875 - d. 1942) was an Indian lawyer, professor, politician and Justice Party leader who served as the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency from 1 April 1937 to 14 July 1937. He was the last Chief Minister of Madras Presidency from the Justice Party.

Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu hailed from the Eluru, Godavari district of Madras Presidency. He graduated from Rajahmundry Arts College, the Madras Christian College, Madras Law College and Madras University and served as the Professor of Physics at Rajahmundry Arts College.

Reddy Naidu joined the Justice Party in 1919-1920 and was a part of T. M. Nair's delegation to the United Kingdom. Later, when a Justice Party government was formed in Madras, Reddy Naidu served under A. Subbarayalu Reddiar and the Raja of Panagal as Minister of Development. In 1923, the Raja of Panagal replaced Reddy Naidu as Minister of Development with T. N. Sivagnanam Pillai.

Reddy Naidu served as India's agent to the Union of South Africa from 1929 to 1932 and acted as the Governor of Madras from 18 June 1936 to 1 October 1936. He was selected as Chief Minister on 1 April 1937 and served in this capacity till 14 July 1937. He also served as the Vice-Chancellor of Annamalai University in 1940. Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu died in 1942.

Read more about Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu:  Early Life, Early Political Career, Agent in South Africa, Acting Governor of Madras, Tenure As Chief Minister of Madras Presidency