Sowmya Reddy

Sowmya Reddy is an Indian politician who is the current General Secretary of All India Mahila Congress of Karnataka and a member of the Indian National Congress. She was elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Karnataka from Jayanagar in 2018 .[3] Sowmya Reddy is the daughter of former Karnataka minister Ramalinga Reddy.[4][5] Sowmya Reddy won from Jayanagar constituency, which was considered to be BJP's stronghold. Sowmya's win means she is the only woman MLA to be elected in Bengaluru alongside 27 men who won earlier.

Sowmya Reddy represents the new wave of Indian politics. Highly Qualified, Globally Aware, Environmentally Conscious, and yet deeply grounded to the reality of the Indian system and its challenges. She has a rare and much needed mix of knowledge, enthusiasm to serve, capability and kindness, all of which she has proven over the years through her hard work at grassroot level. As a MLA she has brought about impactful changes to the life of people, especially the most underprivileged, and believes politics should be progressive, participative and accountable.

In over 15 years of her experience in grassroot activism, she has worked for providing employment and education, empowering women, protecting human rights, preserving the environment and advocating government policies.

Being the daughter of the former Home Minister, Sri. Ramalinga Reddy, who was also the MLA of Jayanagar constituency for four terms, she understands the community of Jayanagar very well and has seen it evolve over the years. With such deep insight into politics and the constituency, she realises the issues of the people. She truly believes Jayanagar has the potential to become the most developed constituency of India and she is determined to make this a reality.

Conferred with the Aadarsh Yuva Vidhayak Samman, for Best Outstanding performance in Development work and promotion of Parliamentary democracy.

Conferred with She runs Government Award 2020, for Best Outstanding MLA.

An equal rights activist, she makes it the mission of her life to fighting for social justice issues in the country, one of the youngest board members of the Animal Welfare Board of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests which works on enforcement of animal protective legislation. She is also on the advisory board of Ondede, fighting for child, women and sexual minority rights, a member of Agara lake protection and management society.

A passionate animal rights activist, Sowmya has not only founded Paradigm Shift, an activist centre and vegan restaurant in 2014 she also broke several norms by having a full vegan wedding. Sowmya has won several awards including the Young Achievers Award – Akhila Karnataka Vipra Mahila Prashathana, PETA (People For Ethical Treatment of Animals) – Outstanding contribution for animals.