| Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani | |
| Alma Mater: | M.D. (Geisinger Medical Center) M.B.B.S. (Osmania Medical College) |
| Office: | 28th Union Minister of State for Communications |
| Term Start: | 11 June 2024 |
| President: | Draupadi Murmu |
| Primeminister: | Narendra Modi |
| Predecessor: | Devusinh Jesingbhai Chauhan |
| Office1: | 28th Union Minister of State for Rural Development |
| Term Start1: | 11 June 2024 (serving along with Kamlesh Paswan) |
| President1: | Droupadi Murmu |
| Primeminister1: | Narendra Modi |
| Minister1: | Shivraj Singh Chouhan |
| Predecessor1: | Faggan Singh Kulaste |
| Office2: | Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha |
| Constituency2: | Guntur |
| Term Start2: | 4 June 2024 |
| Predecessor2: | Galla Jayadev |
| Party: | Telugu Desam Party |
| Birth Date: | 1976 3, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Burripalem, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Residence: | H.No.5-1/2, Near Kalyana Mandapam, Burripalem Village, Tenali Mandal, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, Pin Code - 522301[1] |
| Father: | Sambasiva Rao Pemmasani |
| Mother: | Suvarchala Pemmasani |
| Spouse: | [2] |
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | Physician, Politician, CEO of Uworld |
Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani (born 7 March 1976) is a physician by profession and an Indian politician currently serving as the 28th Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications since June 2024.[3] He was elected as a Member of parliament to the 18th Lok Sabha from Guntur Lok Sabha constituency, Andhra Pradesh. He won the Indian general election, 2024 as a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) candidate.[4] [5]
Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani was born on 7 March 1976[6] at Burripalem, Guntur District in present-day Andhra Pradesh in an agricultural family to Pemmasani Sambasiva Rao and his wife Suvarchala.[7] He has a brother named Ravi Shankar Pemmasani. Although he was born in Burripalem, he spent some time in his childhood in Narasaraopet because of his father's hotel business.[8] He completed his 10th class in 1991 and his intermediate in 1993. With aspirations to become a doctor, he secured 27th rank in the EAMCET in 1993–94 and obtained a seat at Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad.[9]
He finished his postgraduate training in internal medicine at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania. In the course of his postgraduate training, he served as the representative of Pennsylvania in a national medical knowledge competition for two consecutive years. Subsequently, he served as an attending physician at Johns Hopkins University and Sinai Hospital for approximately five years, teaching residents and medical students.[10]
Pemmasani is the founder and CEO of UWorld, a test preparation company.[11]
Pemmasani contributed to the provision of free potable water to residents of the Palnadu region in Andhra Pradesh, within the Guntur district. He provided funding for educational support for children and adults, and has contributed charitably to local community entities.[12]
Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani's father, Sambasivarao, was fond of N.T. Rama Rao. Due to this connection, he joined the Telugu Desam Party. He later served as the Deputy Chairman of Narasaraopet town. Following his father's involvement in politics, Chandra Sekhar also joined the same party. He admired Chandrababu Naidu greatly. When Chandrababu Naidu became Chief Minister, Chandra Sekhar actively participated in organizing events held in America during his visits.[13] In 2014 and 2019, Chandra Sekhar attempted to secure a Narasaraopet Lok Sabha ticket from Telugu Desam Party. However, due to the opportunity given to the former Indian National Congress leader, Rayapati Sambasiva Rao he withdrew for a considerable period.[6]
He ran in the 2024 Indian general election from Guntur Lok Sabha constituency as a Telugu Desam Party candidate,[14] and won with 344,695 votes,[15] succeeding former member Galla Jayadev who had announced he was taking a break from politics in January 2024.[16]