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{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{family name hatnote|Etela|lang=Telugu}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Etela Rajender
| image = Etela Rajendera.jpg
| caption = Rajender in 2023
| office = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| constituency = [[Malkajgiri Lok Sabha constituency|Malkajgiri]]
| term_start = 4 June 2024
| term_end =
| predecessor = [[Revanth Reddy]]
| successor =
| office1 = [[Second K. Chandrashekar Rao ministry|Minister of Health, Medical and Family Welfare]] [[Government of Telangana]]
| term_start1 = 12 February 2019
| term_end1 = 1 May 2021
| governor1 = * [[E. S. L. Narasimhan]]
* [[Tamilisai Soundararajan]]
| 1blankname1 = Chief Minister
| 1namedata1 = [[K. Chandrashekar Rao]]
| predecessor1 = [[C. Laxma Reddy]]
| successor1 = [[T. Harish Rao]]
| office2 = [[First K. Chandrashekar Rao ministry|Minister of Finance & Planning, Small Savings, State Lotteries, Consumer Affairs, Legal Meteorology and Civil Supplies]] [[Government of Telangana]]
| term_start2 = 2 June 2014
| term_end2 = 12 December 2018
| governor2 = [[E. S. L. Narasimhan]]
| 1blankname2 = Chief Minister
| 1namedata2 = [[K. Chandrashekar Rao]]
| predecessor2 = ''Office established''
| successor2 = [[T. Harish Rao]]
| office3 = [[Telangana Legislative Assembly|Member of Legislative Assembly, Telangana]]
| constituency3 = [[Huzurabad Assembly constituency|Huzurabad]]
| term_start3 = 2 June 2014
| predecessor3 = ''Telangana Assembly created''
| term_end3 = 7 December 2023
| successor3 = [[Kaushik Reddy]]
| office4 = [[Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly|Member of Legislative Assembly, Andhra Pradesh]]
| term_start5 = 16 May 2009
| term_end5 = 16 May 2014
| predecessor5 = ''Constituency established''
| successor5 = ''Telangana Assembly created''
| constituency5 = [[Huzurabad (Assembly constituency)|Huzurabad]]
| constituency6 = [[Kamalapur, Andhra Pradesh Assembly constituency|Kamalapur]]
| term_start6 = 11 May 2004
| predecessor6 = [[Muddasani Damodar Reddy]]
| term_end6 = 16 May 2009
| successor6 = ''Constituency dissolved''
| alma_mater = [[Osmania University]] (B.Sc)
| otherparty = [[Bharat Rashtra Samithi]] (2003–2021)
| party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (since 2021)
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1964|3|20}}
| birth_place = [[Kamalapur, Hanamkonda district|Kamalapur]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] (now in [[Telangana]]), India
| spouse = Jamuna
| children = 2
}}

'''Etela Rajender''' (born 20 March 1964) is an Indian politician from [[Telangana]] serving as the [[Member of Parliament (India)|Member of Parliament]] from [[Malkajgiri Lok Sabha constituency]]. He previously served as the first Finance Minister of Telangana from 2014 to 2018 and as the Health Minister of Telangana from 2019 to 2021. He is a member of [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] since 2021.

Rajender represented [[Kamalapur, Andhra Pradesh Assembly constituency|Kamalapur Assembly constituency]] from 2004 to 2010 and [[Huzurabad Assembly constituency]] from 2010 to 2023 in the [[Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly]] and [[Telangana Legislative Assembly]]. He was a member of the [[Telangana Rashtra Samithi]] (TRS) party until 2021, when he joined [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100128083014/http://www.hindu.com/2010/01/23/stories/2010012356860300.htm ‘Government trying to crush Telangana movement’ - ANDHRA PRADESH]. ''The Hindu'' (2010-01-23). Retrieved on 2016-01-13.</ref><ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/portfolios-of-the-council-of-ministers-in-telangana/article6075327.ece Portfolios of the Council of Ministers in Telangana]. ''The Hindu'' (2014-06-02). Retrieved on 2016-01-13.</ref>

==Political career==
Rajender joined TRS in 2003.<ref>{{Cite news|date=12 June 2021|title=Sacked Telangana Minister Eatala Rajender Resigns as TRS MLA, Likely to Join BJP|work=News18|url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/sacked-telangana-minister-eatala-rajender-resigns-as-trs-mla-likely-to-join-bjp-3838478.html|access-date=12 June 2021}}</ref> He is recognised as a student leader with a left-wing ideology.<ref name=":0" />

He was elected as the [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of the Legislative Assembly]] (MLA) from Kamalapur Assembly constituency in the [[2004 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election]]. He defeated the incumbent MLA [[Muddasani Damodar Reddy]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|last=K. M.|first=Dayashankar|date=2 April 2014|title=Etela faces stiff competition|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/etela-faces-stiff-competition/article5859501.ece|url-status=live|access-date=7 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140710061003/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/etela-faces-stiff-competition/article5859501.ece|archive-date=10 July 2014|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He served as the TRS floor leader in the [[Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110811035033/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-11-30/hyderabad/28103239_1_k-chandrasekhar-rao-siddipet-trs KCR's Telangana drama shifts to jail]. ''Times of India'' (2009-11-30). Retrieved on 2016-01-13.</ref> He resigned as the MLA in 2008 and was re-elected as an MLA from the same constituency in the 2008 by-election.<ref name=":5"/><ref>{{Cite news|last=Mohammed|first=Siddique|date=1 June 2008|title=Andhra bypolls: TRS suffers shocking defeat|work=[[Rediff News]]|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2008/jun/01trs.htm|url-status=live|access-date=7 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213220634/https://www.rediff.com/news/2008/jun/01trs.htm|archive-date=13 February 2021}}</ref>

In 2009, the Kamalapur constituency was merged with Huzurabad Assembly constituency. He contested the [[2009 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election]] from Huzurabad constituency and won. In 2010 he resigned as the MLA and won the by-election.<ref name=":5"/>

When Telangana state was established in 2014, he was appointed the Finance Minister of Telangana in the [[first K. Chandrashekar Rao ministry]], and served until 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|date=14 November 2014|title=Eatala Rajender justifies budgetary allocations|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/eatala-rajender-justifies-budgetary-allocations/article6600242.ece|url-status=live|access-date=14 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505191010/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/eatala-rajender-justifies-budgetary-allocations/article6600242.ece|archive-date=5 May 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

He contested the [[2018 Telangana Legislative Assembly election]] and was re-elected as the MLA from Huzurabad constituency. In 2019, he took oath as the Minister of Health for Telangana.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rahul|first=N.|date=19 February 2019|title=Ten new Ministers sworn in|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/ten-new-ministers-sworn-in/article26314787.ece|url-status=live|access-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501095548/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/ten-new-ministers-sworn-in/article26314787.ece|archive-date=1 May 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> As part of the 2018 election's declaration of assets by contestants, he has furnished {{INRConvert|42.41|c|year=2018}} in assets and was the richest among other ministers.<ref>{{Cite news|last=|date=21 November 2018|title=Worth over Rs 3 billion, meet the richest candidate in Telangana polls 2018|work=[[Business Standard]]|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/elections/worth-over-rs-3-billion-meet-the-richest-candidate-in-telangana-polls-2018-118112100618_1.html|access-date=17 June 2021}}</ref>

In May 2021, Rajender, along with his followers and Jamuna Hatcheries, faced allegations of land encroachments in Achampet and Hakimpet villages in [[Medak district]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite news|date=14 June 2021|title=Former Telangana Health Minister Etela Rajender Joins BJP|work=Outlook|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-former-telangana-health-minister-etela-rajender-likely-to-join-bjp-today/385130|access-date=14 June 2021}}</ref> His [[Ministry (government department)|ministerial portfolio]] was removed and he was subsequently dismissed from the [[Cabinet (government)|state cabinet]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|date=1 May 2021|title=Telangana CM KCR Takes Away Health Minister's Portfolio Over Land Grabbing Allegations|work=News18|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/telangana-cm-kcr-order-probe-into-land-grabbing-allegations-against-cabinet-minister-etela-rajender-3693809.html|access-date=14 June 2021}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Telangana: Eatala Rajender dropped from State Cabinet|url=https://telanganatoday.com/telangana-eatala-rajender-dropped-from-state-cabinet|url-status=dead|access-date=2021-05-03|website=Telangana Today|language=en-US|archive-date=3 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503093246/https://telanganatoday.com/telangana-eatala-rajender-dropped-from-state-cabinet}}</ref> Subsequently, on 4 June, he resigned from TRS.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|date=4 June 2021|title=Former Telangana minister Etela Rajender resigns from TRS, likely to join BJP|work=The Indian Express|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/hyderabad/former-telangana-minister-etela-rajender-resigns-from-trs-likely-to-join-bjp-7343970/|access-date=4 June 2021}}</ref> On 12 June, he resigned as MLA.<ref>{{Cite news|date=12 June 2021|title=Former TRS minister Etela Rajender resigns as MLA, set to join BJP|work=Business Standard|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/former-trs-minister-etela-rajender-resigns-as-mla-set-to-join-bjp-121061200446_1.html|access-date=12 June 2021}}</ref>

On 14 June 2021, Rajender joined the BJP in the presence of BJP leaders [[Dharmendra Pradhan]] and [[G. Kishan Reddy]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=14 June 2021|title=Former Telangana minister Etela Rajender joins BJP|work=The Indian Express|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/etela-rajender-bjp-trs-telangana-7357969/|access-date=14 June 2021}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> He has also resigned as the president of Nampally Exhibition Society, which he held since 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|date=16 June 2021|title=Etela Rajender Quits Another Key Post|work=Sakshi|url=https://english.sakshi.com/news/telangana/etela-rajendar-quits-another-key-post-137142|access-date=17 June 2021}}</ref> He contested the by-election held later that year and won as the MLA.<ref>{{Cite news|last=P.|first=Sridhar|date=2 November 2021|title=Eatala wins Huzurabad for BJP|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/eatala-wins-huzurabad-for-bjp/article37312495.ece|url-status=live|access-date=7 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118191940/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/eatala-wins-huzurabad-for-bjp/article37312495.ece|archive-date=18 November 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

In [[2023 Telangana Legislative Assembly election|2023 assembly elections]], he contested from [[Huzurabad Assembly constituency|Huzurabad]] and [[Gajwel Assembly constituency|Gazwel]] as BJP candidate and lost in both places to BRS candidates.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Telangana election result: KCR wins from Gajwel constituency, loses in Kamareddy |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/telangana-assembly-polls-2023/story/kcr-wins-telangana-polls-from-gajwel-2471543-2023-12-03 |date=2023-12-03 |publisher=[[India Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Huzurabad Assembly Election Results 2023 Highlights: BRS's Kaushik Reddy Padi defeats BJP's Eatala Rajendar with 16873 votes |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/story/huzurabad-assembly-election-results-2023-live-2470943-2023-12-03 |date=2023-12-04 |work=[[India Today]]}}</ref> In [[2024 Indian general election|2024 Loksabha elections]] he contested from [[Malkajgiri Lok Sabha constituency|Malkajgiri]] and won as MP with a huge margin of 3,91,475 votes against Congress's Patnam Sunitha Mahender Reddy.<ref name="2024 Loksabha Elections Results - Malkajgiri">{{cite news |last1=Election Commission of India |title=2024 Loksabha Elections Results - Malkajgiri |url=https://results.eci.gov.in/PcResultGenJune2024/candidateswise-S297.htm |access-date=18 June 2024 |date=4 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618172459/https://results.eci.gov.in/PcResultGenJune2024/candidateswise-S297.htm |archive-date=18 June 2024}}</ref><ref name="Party changers {{!}} Shifting hues">{{cite news |date=13 July 2024 |title=Party changers {{!}} Shifting hues |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/18th-lok-sabha-the-debutants/story/20240722-party-changers-shifting-hues-2565842-2024-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250302190555/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/18th-lok-sabha-the-debutants/story/20240722-party-changers-shifting-hues-2565842-2024-07-13 |archive-date=2 March 2025 |access-date=22 March 2025 |publisher=India Today |language=en}}</ref>

Etela Rajender topped with raising 80 questions as Lok Sabha member from Telangana in participating in debates during the Parliament sessions between 24 June 2024 to 4 April 2025.<ref name="Chamala Tops TG MPs in Attendance, Etala Leads in Questions">{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=Chamala Tops TG MPs in Attendance, Etala Leads in Questions |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/southern-states/telangana/chamala-tops-tg-mps-in-attendance-etala-leads-in-questions-1873277 |access-date=17 April 2025 |work= |publisher=Deccan Chronicle |date=16 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250417144942/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/southern-states/telangana/chamala-tops-tg-mps-in-attendance-etala-leads-in-questions-1873277 |archive-date=17 April 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Legislative Assembly Elections ===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
! Year
! Constituency
! colspan=2|Party
! Votes
! %
! Opponent
! colspan=2|Opponent Party
! Opponent Votes
! %
! Result
! Margin
! %
|-
! rowspan=2|[[2023 Telangana Legislative Assembly election|2023]]
| [[Gajwel Assembly constituency|Gajwel]]
| {{Party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party|rowspan=3}}
| 66,653
| 28.68
| [[Kalvakuntla Chandrashekhar Rao|K Chandrashekhar Rao]]
| {{Party name with color|Bharat Rashtra Samithi|rowspan=2}}
| 111,684
| 48.05
| {{no2|Lost}}
| -45,031
| -19.37
|-
| [[Huzurabad Assembly constituency|Huzurabad]]
| 63,460
| 30.32
| [[Kaushik Reddy]]
| 80,333
| 38.38
| {{no2|Lost}}
| -16,873
| -8.06
|-
! 2021
| [[Huzurabad Assembly constituency|Huzurabad ''(by-election)'']]
| 107,022
| 51.96
| [[Gellu Srinivas Yadav]]
| {{Party name with color|Telangana Rashtra Samithi}}
| 83,167
| 40.38
| {{yes2|Won}}
| +23,855
| +11.58
|-
! [[2018 Telangana Legislative Assembly election|2018]]
| rowspan="2"|[[Huzurabad Assembly constituency|Huzurabad]]
| {{Party name with color|Telangana Rashtra Samithi|rowspan=6}}
| 104,840
| 59.34
| [[Kaushik Reddy]]
| {{Party name with color|Indian National Congress|rowspan=2}}
| 61,121
| 34.60
| {{yes2|Won}}
| +43,719
| +24.74
|-
! [[2014 Telangana Legislative Assembly election|2014]]
| 95,315
| 58.76
| Kethiri Sudarshan Reddy
| 38,278
| 23.60
| {{yes2|Won}}
| +57,037
| +35.16
|-
! 2010
| [[Huzurabad Assembly constituency|Huzurabad ''(by-election)'']]
| 93,026
| 67.36
| [[Muddasani Damodar Reddy]]
| {{Party name with color|Telugu Desam Party}}
| 13,799
| 9.99
| {{yes2|Won}}
| +79,227
| +57.37
|-
! [[2009 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2009]]
| [[Huzurabad Assembly constituency|Huzurabad]]
| 56,752
| 38.82
| V Krishna Mohan Rao
| {{Party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
| 41,717
| 28.54
| {{yes2|Won}}
| +15,035
| +10.28
|-
! 2008
| [[Kamalapur, Andhra Pradesh Assembly constituency|Kamalapur ''(by-election)'']]
| 54,092
| 44.53
| rowspan="2"|[[Muddasani Damodar Reddy]]
| {{Party name with color|Telugu Desam Party|rowspan=2}}
| 31,808
| 26.18
| {{yes2|Won}}
| +22,284
| +18.35
|-
! [[2004 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2004]]
| [[Kamalapur, Andhra Pradesh Assembly constituency|Kamalapur]]
| 68,393
| 52.40
| 48,774
| 37.37
| {{yes2|Won}}
| +19,619
| +15.03
|}

=== Member of parliament ===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
! Year
! Constituency
! colspan=2|Party
! Votes
! %
! Opponent
! colspan=2|Opponent Party
! Opponent Votes
! %
! Result
! Margin
! %
|-
! [[2024 Indian general election in Telangana|2024]]
| [[Malkajgiri Lok Sabha constituency|Malkajgiri]]
| {{Party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
| 991,042
| 51.25
| Patnam Sunitha Mahender Reddy
| {{Party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
| 599,567
| 31.00
| {{yes2|Won}}
| +391,475
| +20.25
|-
|}

== Personal life ==
Etela was born on 20 March 1964 into a [[Mudiraju]] family in [[Kamalapur, Hanamkonda district|Kamalapur, Hanumakonda]] district of present-day [[Telangana]]. His father, Sri Mallaiah ( or Pedda Mallaiah ) , was a respected figure who passed away in August 2022. <ref>{{Cite web|title=Member's Profile - Telangana-Legislature: SRI EATALA RAJENDER|url=https://www.telanganalegislature.org.in/web/legislative-assembly/members-information?p_auth=qQTnF2A8&p_p_id=AssemblyMemberInfo_WAR_TGportlet&p_p_lifecycle=1&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_count=1&_AssemblyMemberInfo_WAR_TGportlet_const_id=31&_AssemblyMemberInfo_WAR_TGportlet_javax.portlet.action=getMemberDetails&_AssemblyMemberInfo_WAR_TGportlet_mem_id=1426&_AssemblyMemberInfo_WAR_TGportlet_term_id=14|access-date=2021-06-16|website=[[Telangana Legislature]]|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624195713/https://www.telanganalegislature.org.in/web/legislative-assembly/members-information?p_auth=qQTnF2A8&p_p_id=AssemblyMemberInfo_WAR_TGportlet&p_p_lifecycle=1&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_count=1&_AssemblyMemberInfo_WAR_TGportlet_const_id=31&_AssemblyMemberInfo_WAR_TGportlet_javax.portlet.action=getMemberDetails&_AssemblyMemberInfo_WAR_TGportlet_mem_id=1426&_AssemblyMemberInfo_WAR_TGportlet_term_id=14|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=K|first=Sammaiah|date=20 March 2021|title=Eatala Rajender Birthday Special: ఉద్యమకారుడి నుంచి రాష్ట్ర మంత్రివరకు.. ప్రజానేత ప్రస్థానం - Minister Eatala Rajender Birthday|url=https://tv9telugu.com/politics/ts-minister-eatala-rajender-birthday-celebrations-special-440421.html|access-date=12 June 2021|website=TV9 Telugu|language=te}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> He has studied B.Sc. from [[Osmania University]] in 1984.<ref name=":3" /> He married Jamuna, who owns Jamuna Hatcheries. They have two children, Nithin Rajender (son) and Neeta Rajender (daughter) . <ref>{{Cite news|date=30 May 2021|title=Seemandhra rulers better than KCR: Etela wife Jamuna!|work=Telugu360|url=https://www.telugu360.com/seemandhra-rulers-better-than-kcr-etela-wife-jamuna/|access-date=4 June 2021}}</ref> .<ref>{{Cite news|date=19 June 2017|title=Etela Rajender's non-veg feast invitation for OU students faces flak|work=The Hans India|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Telangana/2017-06-19/Etela-Rajenders-non-veg-feast-invitation-for-OU-students-faces-flak/307373|access-date=4 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Bandari|first=Pawan Kumar|date=15 November 2019|title=Telangana CM KCR, governor and ministers attends Etela Rajender's daughter's marriage in Hyderabad|work=The Hans India|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/telangana/telangana-cm-kcr-governor-and-ministers-attends-etela-rajenders-daughters-marriage-in-hyderabad-581488|access-date=4 June 2021}}</ref>

{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Cabinet of K Chandrashekar Rao}}
{{Bharatiya Janata Party}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rajender, Etela}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Telangana MLAs 2014–2018]]
[[Category:Bharat Rashtra Samithi politicians]]
[[Category:Telugu politicians]]
[[Category:People from Medak]]
[[Category:State cabinet ministers of Telangana]]
[[Category:Telangana MLAs 2018–2023]]
[[Category:Andhra Pradesh MLAs 2009–2014]]
[[Category:Andhra Pradesh MLAs 2004–2009]]
[[Category:People from Karimnagar district]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Telangana]]
[[Category:Osmania University alumni]]
[[Category:India MPs 2024–2029]]
[[Category:Health ministers of Telangana]]

Etela Rajender - Revision history

BrooksPrather at 00:09, 1 March 2026