T. Harish Rao
Seven-time MLA for Siddipet and a key BRS strategist, who served as Telangana’s irrigation, finance and health minister.
- Based in
- Siddipet
- Region
- Telangana
Thanneeru Harish Rao was born on 3 June 1972 in Thotapalli village, then in Karimnagar district and now in Siddipet district. He entered the Assembly from Siddipet in a 2004 by-election and served as Minister for Youth Services in 2004–2005.
During the Telangana movement he resigned his seat with other legislators and returned through by-elections. After statehood he was Minister for Irrigation, Marketing and Legislative Affairs from 2014 to 2018, when he led Mission Kakatiya, a programme to restore the state’s traditional tanks and lakes. He was Finance Minister from 2019 to 2023 and also took Health from 2021.
He has won Siddipet seven times and remains one of the BRS’s leading figures in opposition.
Career
Elected MLA for Siddipet (by-election)
2004.
Minister for Youth Services, Andhra Pradesh
2004–2005.
Minister for Irrigation, Marketing and Legislative Affairs, Telangana
2014–2018.
- 8 Sept 2019
Finance Minister, Telangana
Until December 2023.
- 9 Nov 2021
Minister for Health, Medical and Family Welfare
Education
Diploma, Government Polytechnic, Hyderabad
Graduate, Kakatiya University
Known for
Mission Kakatiya
Restoration of tanks and lakes across Telangana.
