Former Minister Gummadi Kuthuhalamma, aged 74, passed away at her residence in Tirupati on February 15 (Wednesday) after a prolonged illness. Kuthuhalamma, who was a doctor by profession, rose to fame in 1978 as a rebel candidate of the Congress party and later became the Zilla Parishad chairman of the united Chittoor district. She served as a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) for four terms from the Vepanjeri Assembly Constituency (SC) in the district between 1985 and 1999. In 2004, she won from the reorganised Puthalapattu Assembly Constituency (SC). Kuthuhalamma also served as the Minister for Health in the N. Janardhan Reddy government and as the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly during the Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy government. In 2014, Kuthuhalamma joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) but was defeated from the Puthalapattu constituency. She was known for her service to the people and had worked extensively for the development of her constituency. Several senior Congress and TDP leaders visited
