Bandaru Dattatreya - a simple leader from backward class

Bandaru Dattatreya, a four-time MP who joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi's counil of ministers Sunday, comes from a modest background and with his sheer simplicity, soft-spoken and down-to-earth nature came up in his political career.

The 67-year-old from Hyderabad, belonging to the backward class, has already served as the union minister of state twice in the past.

He will be the only representative from Telangana in the union cabinet.

Born June 12, 1947, Dattatreya is a science graduate. He joined Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1965. He worked as RSS parcharak from 1968 to 1989.

He was state joint secretary of Loka Sangarsha Samiti (Jayaprakash Narayana movement). He was jailed during the Emergency. He joined the BJP in 1980 and held various positions before becoming president of the Andhra Pradesh unit of the party in 1997.

The big moment in his political career came when he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Secunderabad in 1991. He was re-elected to the Lok Sabha in 1998 and served as union minister of state for urban development in the Vajpayee government.

Dattatreya scored a hat-trick in 1999 by retaining Secunderabad seat. Vajpayee rewarded him by inducting him again as minister of state. He held the portfolio of urban development till 2001 and the portfolio of railways from 2001 to 2003.

Later, he was again made minister of state for urban development with independent charge. The veteran leader lost the 2004 and 2009 elections. He was appointed BJP state president in 2006 and national executive member in 2009.

He is serving as national vice-president of the party since 2010.

With the BJP returning to power at the Centre in May this year, Dattatreya also bounced back by bagging Secunderabad seat for the fourth term.

Married to Vasantha in 1989, he has a son and a daughter.