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{{Short description|Indian businessman and politician (1971–2022)}}
{{Family name hatnote|Mekapati|lang=Telugu}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Mekapati Goutham Reddy
| image = Mekapati Goutham Reddy.jpg
| caption = Reddy in 2020
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1971|11|02|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2022|2|21|1971|11|2}}
| death_place = [[Hyderabad, Telangana]], India
| office = Industries, Commerce, and Information Technology [[Minister (government)|Minister]], [[Government of Andhra Pradesh]]
| termstart = 19 June 2019
| termend = 21 February 2022
| predecessor = 
| constituency1 = [[Atmakur (Assembly constituency)|Atmakur]]
| office1 = [[Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly|Member of Legislative Assembly<br>Andhra Pradesh]]
| term_start1 =  2014
| term_end1 = 21 February 2022
| preceded1 = [[Anam Ramanarayana Reddy]]
| party = [[YSR Congress Party]]
| education = [[M.Sc]]
| spouse = Srikeerthi
| children = 2
| footnotes =
| alma_mater = [[University of Manchester]]
| occupation = Businessman, politician
| parents = [[Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy]] (father)
| birth_place = Brahmanapalli, [[Andhra Pradesh]], India
}}

'''Mekapati Goutham Reddy''' (2 November 1971 – 21 February 2022) was an Indian businessman<ref>{{Cite news|date=15 April 2014|title=YS Jagan Mohan Reddy gives tickets to co-accused, bizmen|work=[[The Economic Times]]|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/ys-jagan-mohan-reddy-gives-tickets-to-co-accused-bizmen/articleshow/33753873.cms|access-date=21 February 2022|archive-date=21 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221113433/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/ys-jagan-mohan-reddy-gives-tickets-to-co-accused-bizmen/articleshow/33753873.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> and politician from the state of [[Andhra Pradesh]]. He was the Minister for Industries, Commerce, and Information Technology in the [[Government of Andhra Pradesh]]. He was elected twice and served as the [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of the Legislative Assembly]] (MLA) in the [[Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly]] representing the [[Atmakur (Assembly constituency)|Atmakur Assembly constituency]] on behalf of [[YSR Congress Party]] from 2014 until his death in 2022.

As a minister, he made efforts in framing new policies in industrial and IT sectors. He viewed information technology (IT) to be the factor that would transform Andhra Pradesh to be a trillion-dollar economy. He led a delegation team to Dubai [[Expo 2020]] in February 2022 in order to attract investments to the state.

== Personal life ==
Mekapati Goutham Reddy was born on 2 November 1971 to [[Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy]] and Mani Manjari.<ref>{{Cite news|date=21 February 2022|title=Andhra Industries Minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy dead|work=[[The Economic Times]]|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/andhra-industries-minister-mekapati-goutham-reddy-dead/articleshow/89716198.cms|access-date=21 February 2022|archive-date=21 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221113452/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/andhra-industries-minister-mekapati-goutham-reddy-dead/articleshow/89716198.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Pv|first=Prasad|date=21 February 2022|title=Mekapati Goutham Reddy: A brief introduction of this non controversial politician|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/mekapati-goutham-reddy-a-brief-introduction-of-this-non-controversial-politician-730205|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221113449/https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/mekapati-goutham-reddy-a-brief-introduction-of-this-non-controversial-politician-730205|archive-date=21 February 2022|access-date=21 February 2022|website=[[The Hans India]]|language=en}}</ref> He hailed from Brahmanapalli village in [[Nellore district|Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Apparasu|first=Srinivasa Rao|date=22 February 2022|title=Andhra minister Goutham Reddy dies of heart attack|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/andhra-minister-dies-goutham-reddy-of-heart-attack-101645468639999.html|access-date=22 February 2022|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|language=en}}</ref> He had two brothers, Prithvi Kumar Reddy and Vikram Reddy. His father, Rajamohan Reddy, was a former [[Member of Parliament (India)|Member of Parliament]] of [[Nellore (Lok Sabha constituency)|Nellore Lok Sabha constituency]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Malik|first=Aman|date=15 May 2014|title=The business interests of Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy|url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/J5hlYPhIt5cmLgdvdktzuO/The-business-interests-of-Mekapati-Rajamohan-Reddy.html|url-status=live|access-date=21 February 2022|website=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]]|archive-date=18 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118082443/https://www.livemint.com/Politics/J5hlYPhIt5cmLgdvdktzuO/The-business-interests-of-Mekapati-Rajamohan-Reddy.html}}</ref> His paternal uncle, Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy, is a politician and is the current MLA representing [[Udayagiri (Assembly constituency)|Udayagiri Assembly constituency]].<ref name=":5" />

Reddy did his schooling in Good Shepherd International School in [[Ooty, Tamil Nadu]] and graduated from Badruka College of Commerce and Arts, Hyderabad.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|date=22 February 2022|title=Brahamanapalli mourns their beloved leader|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/brahamanapalli-mourns-their-beloved-leader/article65070894.ece|access-date=22 February 2022|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He pursued his Master's degree in Apparel and Textiles during 1994 and 1997 from the [[University of Manchester]], [[United Kingdom]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=21 February 2022|title=Andhra Pradesh minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy dies due to sudden illness|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2022/feb/21/andhra-pradesh-minister-mekapati-gautham-reddy-dies-due-to-sudden-illness-2422004.html|url-status=live|access-date=21 February 2022|website=[[The New Indian Express]]|archive-date=21 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221044522/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2022/feb/21/andhra-pradesh-minister-mekapati-gautham-reddy-dies-due-to-sudden-illness-2422004.html}}</ref> He was married to Srikeerthi and the couple had two children, a son and a daughter. He was tested positive for [[COVID-19]] twice, once in April 2021 and later in January 2022.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=21 February 2022|title=Andhra Pradesh Industries Minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy passes away|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/hyderabad/andhra-pradesh-industries-minister-mekapati-goutham-reddy-death-7783270/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221115125/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/hyderabad/andhra-pradesh-industries-minister-mekapati-goutham-reddy-death-7783270/|archive-date=21 February 2022|access-date=21 February 2022|website=[[The Indian Express]]|language=en}}</ref>

== Business career ==
Reddy had been managing KMC Constructions since his post-graduation in 1997.<ref name=":6" /> He, along with his family, had controlling shares in several companies including KMC Constructions, KMC Road Holdings, KMC Infratech, Guruvayoor Infrastructure, Brindavan Infrastructure, Krishnarjuna Real Estates, Andaman Angling Agency, Pink City Expressway, Rayalaseema Expressway and North Malabar Expressway. These companies operate in road construction, real estate and infrastructure sectors.<ref name=":2" />

== Political career ==
Reddy started his political career in 2014 contesting from the Atmakur constituency on behalf of [[YSR Congress Party]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last1=K. Shiva Shankar|first1=|last2=Reddy|first2=Ravi|date=21 February 2022|title=Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Goutham Reddy dies of heart attack in Hyderabad|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/andhra-pradesh-it-minister-goutham-reddy-dies-of-heart-attack-in-hyderabad/article65070123.ece|url-status=live|access-date=21 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221104239/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/andhra-pradesh-it-minister-goutham-reddy-dies-of-heart-attack-in-hyderabad/article65070123.ece|archive-date=21 February 2022|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He won the [[2014 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2014 election]] as the MLA against the incumbent [[Anam Ramanarayana Reddy]] of [[Indian National Congress]] and defeated his closest opponent, GM Kanna Babu, of the [[Telugu Desam Party]] (TDP) with a majority of 31,412 votes polled for him.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" />

In [[2019 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2019 election]], he contested again from Atmakur constituency and won as the MLA against his close opponent, Bollineni Krishnaiah of TDP.<ref name=":3" /> He declared assets of {{INRConvert|61|c|lk=on}} in the affidavit submitted for the election.<ref>{{Cite news|date=26 June 2019|title=35% of Ministers have serious criminal cases, says ADR report|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/35-of-ministers-have-serious-criminal-cases-says-adr-report/article28139023.ece|url-status=live|access-date=21 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225222730/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/35-of-ministers-have-serious-criminal-cases-says-adr-report/article28139023.ece|archive-date=25 February 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In June 2019, he joined the [[Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy ministry|state government's cabinet]] and was given the portfolio of Industries, Commerce, and Information Technology.<ref>{{Cite web|date=19 June 2019|title=Andhra Pradesh: Mekapati Goutham Reddy takes charge as IT Minister|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/politics/andhra-pradesh-mekapati-goutham-reddy-takes-charge-as-it-minister20190619172734/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707072000/https://www.aninews.in/news/national/politics/andhra-pradesh-mekapati-goutham-reddy-takes-charge-as-it-minister20190619172734/|archive-date=7 July 2019|access-date=22 June 2019|website=[[Asian News International|ANI]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=9 June 2021|title=A.P. balanced welfare and growth, says Mekapati|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ap-balanced-welfare-and-growth-says-mekapati/article34764397.ece|url-status=live|access-date=21 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611125746/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ap-balanced-welfare-and-growth-says-mekapati/article34764397.ece|archive-date=11 June 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name="Andhra Pradesh Ministers: Portfolios and profiles">{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=Andhra Pradesh Ministers: Portfolios and profiles |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/andhra-pradesh-ministers-portfolios-and-profiles/article27698301.ece |access-date=15 April 2022 |work= |date=8 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415155454/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/andhra-pradesh-ministers-portfolios-and-profiles/article27698301.ece |archive-date=15 April 2022 |language=en-IN}}</ref>

In April 2021, his [[Twitter]] account was hacked and malicious messages were tweeted.<ref>{{Cite news|last=V. Raghavendra|date=10 April 2021|title=A.P. Minister Goutham Reddy's Twitter account hacked|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ap-minister-goutham-reddys-twitter-account-hacked/article34287697.ece|url-status=live|access-date=21 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509101641/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ap-minister-goutham-reddys-twitter-account-hacked/article34287697.ece|archive-date=9 May 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Minister for Industries, Commerce, and IT (2019–2022) ==
===Policies and investments===
During his term as a minister, Reddy was instrumental in framing new policies such as AP Industrial Development Police 2020-23, YSR EMC Kopparthy Electronics policy, Jagannana YSR Kopparthy Mega Industrial Hub Policy 2020 and AP IT Policy 2021-24.<ref>{{Cite web|date=22 February 2022|title=Goutham strived till last to bring in investments to AP|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/news/cities/vijayawada/goutham-strived-till-last-to-bring-in-investments-to-ap-730300|website=[[The Hans India]]}}</ref> According to Reddy, Andhra Pradesh had attracted investments worth {{INRConvert|29780|c|lk=on}} from 65 large and mega industries between June 2019 and May 2021 during his term.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dara|first=Gopi|last2=|date=16 July 2021|title=Andhra Pradesh netted Rs 29,780.86 crore investment in 2019-20 {{!}} Vijayawada News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vijayawada/ap-netted-rs-29780-86-cr-investment-in-2019-20/articleshow/84153090.cms|website=The Times of India}}</ref> Following the criticism by the opposition [[Telugu Desam Party]] (TDP), Reddy took to Twitter and shared the details of the investments.<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 June 2021|title=Here is the proof: Andhra Pradesh Minister Mekapati tweets projects' details|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2021/jun/10/here-is-the-proof-andhra-pradesh-ministermekapati-tweets-projectsdetails-2314194.html|access-date=|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

In 2020, Andhra Pradesh retained the top rank in [[Indian states ranking by ease of doing business|ease of doing business]] among the Indian states following his initiatives.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=MN|first=Samdani|date=21 February 2022|title=Mekapati Goutham Reddy: Andhra Pradesh minister Mekapati Gautham Reddy dies of cardiac arrest|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/andhra-pradesh-minister-mekapati-gautham-reddy-dies-of-cardiac-arrest/articleshow/89715488.cms|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221043324/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/andhra-pradesh-minister-mekapati-gautham-reddy-dies-of-cardiac-arrest/articleshow/89715488.cms|archive-date=21 February 2022|access-date=21 February 2022|website=[[The Times of India]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=5 September 2020|title=Andhra Pradesh retains top spot in ease of doing business 2019 ranking|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/andhra-pradesh-retains-top-spot-in-ease-of-doing-business-2019-ranking-11599302343549.html|website=[[Livemint]]}}</ref>

He invited the [[Government of Western Australia]] to explore investment and growth opportunities in the state, while addressing a 2021 virtual summit held with their government officials. He suggested mining, infrastructure, skills development, IT and manufacturing sectors would be the potential areas for collaboration between the two governments.<ref>{{Cite news|date=8 January 2021|title=Explore opportunities in A.P., Minister tells officials of Western Australia|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/explore-opportunities-in-ap-minister-tells-officials-of-western-australia/article33524284.ece|access-date=22 February 2022|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

=== Dubai Expo 2020 ===
In February 2022, Reddy led the Andhra Pradesh government's delegation in his ministerial capacity at Dubai [[Expo 2020]],<ref>{{Cite news|last=V. Raghavendra|first=|date=16 February 2022|title=Andhra Pradesh government ties up with UAE's national cooling company Tabreed|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/andhra-pradesh-government-ties-up-with-uaes-national-cooling-company-tabreed/article65055213.ece|access-date=21 February 2022|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> where the state government had a stall at India's [[pavilion]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 February 2022|title=Minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy to hardsell AP at EXPO Dubai|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2022/feb/11/ministermekapati-goutham-reddy-to-hardsell-ap-atexpo-dubai-2418112.html|access-date=22 February 2022|website=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> He laid a pitch to the attendance projecting Andhra Pradesh as a resourceful and business-friendly state and established it as a destination for businesses.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Samdani MN|date=13 February 2022|title=Industries minister Mekapati Gautham Reddy makes pitch for Andhra Pradesh at Dubai expo|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/industries-minister-mekapati-gautham-reddy-makes-pitch-for-andhra-pradesh-at-dubai-expo/articleshow/89536825.cms|access-date=22 February 2022|website=[[The Times of India]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=11 February 2022|title=Minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy to hardsell AP at EXPO Dubai|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2022/feb/11/ministermekapati-goutham-reddy-to-hardsell-ap-atexpo-dubai-2418112.html|access-date=21 February 2022|website=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> The visit resulted in investment offers worth {{INRConvert|10350|c|lk=}} to the state and [[Memorandum of understanding|memorandum of understandings]] with several companies with an intent to invest over {{INRConvert|5150|c}}.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Md|first=Illyas|date=19 February 2022|title=Andhra Pradesh gets Rs 10,350 crore expo investments|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/190222/ap-attracts-rs-10350-crore-investments-at-dubai-expo-2020.html|access-date=21 February 2022|website=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|language=en}}</ref>

=== Views on IT ===
Reddy envisioned information technology (IT) to empower Andhra Pradesh in becoming an incubation hub and transform the state into a trillion dollar economy.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=1 December 2021|title=Andhra Pradesh set to become an incubation hub: Mekapati Goutham Reddy|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/andhra-pradesh-set-to-become-an-incubation-hub-mekapati-goutham-reddy-717684|access-date=21 February 2022|website=[[The Hans India]]|language=en}}</ref> At Dubai Expo 2022, he strived to bring investments into the state in the IT sector.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=17 February 2022|title=Minister Goutham Reddy woos Abu Dhabi firms to invest in AP|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/news/cities/vijayawada/minister-goutham-reddy-woos-abu-dhabi-firms-to-invest-in-ap-729637|access-date=21 February 2022|website=[[The Hans India]]|language=en}}</ref>

== Death ==
Reddy died on 21 February 2022 due to a [[heart attack]] in Hyderabad. Despite [[resuscitation]] efforts of conducting [[CPR]] for more than 90 minutes at [[Apollo Hospitals]] in [[Jubilee Hills]], he could not be revived.<ref name=":0" /> In the wake of his death, the makers of the movie ''[[Bheemla Nayak]]'' postponed their pre-release event as a sign of respect.<ref>{{Cite web|date=21 February 2022|title=Bheemla Nayak pre-release event postponed as AP Minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy passes away|url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/south/bheemla-nayak-pre-release-event-postponed-ap-minister-mekapati-goutham-reddy-passes-away-1028733|access-date=22 February 2022|website=[[Pinkvilla]]|language=en}}</ref> The state government announced a two-day state mourning period.<ref name=":5"/> The last rites were performed on 23 February with state honours at Mekapati Rajmohan Reddy Institute of Technology and Science in [[Udayagiri, Nellore district]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=23 February 2022|title=Thousands bid farewell to Andhra IT Minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/thousands-bid-farewell-andhra-it-minister-mekapati-goutham-reddy-161278|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223205342/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/thousands-bid-farewell-andhra-it-minister-mekapati-goutham-reddy-161278|archive-date=23 February 2022|access-date=23 February 2022|website=[[The News Minute]]|language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Twitter}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mekapati, Goutham Reddy}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:YSR Congress Party politicians]]
[[Category:People from Nellore district]]
[[Category:Andhra Pradesh MLAs 2014–2019]]
[[Category:Andhra Pradesh MLAs 2019–2024]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian businesspeople]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Manchester]]
[[Category:State cabinet ministers of Andhra Pradesh]]

Mekapati Goutham Reddy - Revision history

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