Renuka Chowdhury (Indian Politician) Biography

Quick Info

Profession	Politician
Nationality	Indian
Date of Birth	13/08/1954
Age	71 years
Birthplace	Visakhapatnam, Andhra State (now Andhra Pradesh), India

Latest News about Renuka Chowdhury

30/03/2026

Renuka Chowdhury raised an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha regarding central assistance to the Bharat Future City project in Telangana, seeking details on funding and support from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. This reflects her ongoing engagement on state-specific development issues as a nominated member from Telangana.

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Bio/Wiki

Caste	Kamma

Physical Stats & More

Height	163 cm
Eye Color	Black
Hair Color	Black

Educational Qualification(s)

M. A. in Industrial Psychology	Karnataka University (1976)
Diploma	Marketing Management, Public Relations, and Advertising
B.A. in Industrial Psychology	Bangalore University
M.A. in Industrial Psychology	Karnataka University (1976)

Personal Life

School	Welham Girls' School, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
College/University	Bangalore University, Karnataka University
Address	H. No. 8-2-680, Road No. 1, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad-500034, Andhra Pradesh, India

Relationships & More

Marital Status	Married
Marriage Date	7 October 1973

Family

Husband

S. Chowdhury (businessman)

Children

Poojita Chowdhury (a documentary filmmaker)
Tejaswini Chowdhury

Parents

Father	K.S. Rao (deceased) (Air Commodore in the Indian Air Force)
Mother	Vasundhra Rao

Siblings

Renuka Chowdhury has two younger sisters

Career

Political Party	Indian National Congress (INC) (1998-Present) Telugu Desam Party (TDP) (1998-1984)
Political Journey	Joined Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1984 Became corporator at Banjara Hills, Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Lost by-election on Panyam assembly seat in 1993 Served as Member of the Rajya Sabha and Chief Whip of the Telugu Desam Parliamentary party from 1986 to 1998 Served as the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare from 1997 to 1998 Joined the INC in 1998 Served as a Member of Committee on Finance from 1999 to 2000 Served as a Member of Committee on the Empowerment of Women from 2000 to 2001 Re-elected as MLA from Khammam in 2004 Served as the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Tourism from 23 May 2004 to 28 January 2006 Served as the Minister of Women and Child Development from 29 January 2006 to 22 May 2009 Contested and lost the Khammam Lok Sabha seat in 2009 Served as Member of the Rajya Sabha from 3 April 2012 to 2 April 2018 Elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Telangana in March 2024 Served as Chief Whip of the Telugu Desam Parliamentary party from 1986 to 1998 Developed differences with N.T. Rama Rao in 1994 and was expelled from TDP Remained associated with separate party TDP-2 until end of term Joined the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1998 Elected to the 13th Lok Sabha representing Khammam in 1999 Elected to the 14th Lok Sabha representing Khammam in 2004 Served as the Union Minister of State for Tourism from 23 May 2004 to 28 January 2006 Served as the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ministry of Women and Child Development from 29 January 2006 to 22 May 2009 Played a pivotal role in the passage of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 Member of Rajya Sabha (1986-1992, 1992-1998); Chief Whip, Telugu Desam Parliamentary Party, Rajya Sabha Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare (1997-1998) Elected to 13th Lok Sabha from Khammam (1999) Member, Committee on Finance (1999-2000) Member, Committee on the Empowerment of Women (2000-2001) Elected to 14th Lok Sabha from Khammam (2004) Union Minister of State for Tourism (23/05/2004 to 28/01/2006) Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Women and Child Development (29/01/2006 to 22/05/2009) Member of the Rajya Sabha (03/04/2012 to 02/04/2018) Launched and promoted the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme during her tenure as Minister of Women and Child Development

Political Party

Indian National Congress (INC) (1998-Present)
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) (1998-1984)

Political Journey

Joined Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1984
Became corporator at Banjara Hills, Hyderabad Municipal Corporation
Lost by-election on Panyam assembly seat in 1993
Served as Member of the Rajya Sabha and Chief Whip of the Telugu Desam Parliamentary party from 1986 to 1998
Served as the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare from 1997 to 1998
Joined the INC in 1998
Served as a Member of Committee on Finance from 1999 to 2000
Served as a Member of Committee on the Empowerment of Women from 2000 to 2001
Re-elected as MLA from Khammam in 2004
Served as the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Tourism from 23 May 2004 to 28 January 2006
Served as the Minister of Women and Child Development from 29 January 2006 to 22 May 2009
Contested and lost the Khammam Lok Sabha seat in 2009
Served as Member of the Rajya Sabha from 3 April 2012 to 2 April 2018
Elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Telangana in March 2024
Served as Chief Whip of the Telugu Desam Parliamentary party from 1986 to 1998
Developed differences with N.T. Rama Rao in 1994 and was expelled from TDP
Remained associated with separate party TDP-2 until end of term
Joined the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1998
Elected to the 13th Lok Sabha representing Khammam in 1999
Elected to the 14th Lok Sabha representing Khammam in 2004
Served as the Union Minister of State for Tourism from 23 May 2004 to 28 January 2006
Served as the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ministry of Women and Child Development from 29 January 2006 to 22 May 2009
Played a pivotal role in the passage of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005
Member of Rajya Sabha (1986-1992, 1992-1998); Chief Whip, Telugu Desam Parliamentary Party, Rajya Sabha
Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare (1997-1998)
Elected to 13th Lok Sabha from Khammam (1999)
Member, Committee on Finance (1999-2000)
Member, Committee on the Empowerment of Women (2000-2001)
Elected to 14th Lok Sabha from Khammam (2004)
Union Minister of State for Tourism (23/05/2004 to 28/01/2006)
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Women and Child Development (29/01/2006 to 22/05/2009)
Member of the Rajya Sabha (03/04/2012 to 02/04/2018)
Launched and promoted the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme during her tenure as Minister of Women and Child Development

Social Media

Instagram	https://www.instagram.com/renuka.chowdhury/

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Renuka grew up moving around the country, exposed to different languages and cultures due to her air commander father.
2. In 1984, she began her political career as a corporator in Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Banjara Hills.
3. She had a fallout with N. T. Rama Rao in 1994, resulting in her expulsion from the party.
4. Following her expulsion, she remained associated with a separate party called TDP-2 until the term ended.
5. Renuka made headlines by filing a dowry harassment case against her in-laws after her daughter Poojita's marriage ended in divorce.
6. She is known for making controversial statements that often spark criticism and backlash.
7. During her role as Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development, she introduced several controversial policies.
8. Renuka faced criticism for allegedly displaying insensitive behavior at a restaurant, where her servant stood while her family dined.
9. She played a key role in the passage of the Domestic Violence Act 2005 to protect women from domestic violence.
10. She was enraged when actress-turned-politician Jaya Prada was nominated for a third term in the Rajya Sabha instead of her in 1998.

Renuka Chowdhury Politician Indian Visakhapatnam, Andhra State (now Andhra Pradesh), India