Sardar Gowthu Latchanna is also popular as Gowthu Latchanna

Gouthu Latchanna, termed 'Sardar' by the locale who know well, represented the social class of the people. Latchanna is a freedom fighter and a social reformer from Sompeta of Srikakulam district.

Gouthu Latchanna is a revolutionary right from the days of his childhood. In his young days, he called the supremacy of the higher caste people. He was arrested at a very young age of 14 when he participated in the Salt Satyagraha at Palasa, called by none other than the Father of the Nation, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

Latchanna also participated in the Quit India Movement aimed at throwing the ruling British outside India. He is believed to have participated or attended programs of some underground workers on his way to Madras during those days and is termed to be an 'extremist'.

Post Indian-Indepenedence, Latchanna entered politics and represented the people. He was elected to the Assembly in 1948 from a labour ticket from Visakhapatnam. He rose to become the Minister of Agriculture and Labour and is an active participant in the cabinets of Tanguturi Prakasham Panthulu and Bezawada Goapala Reddy. Latchanna is known well for the issue on prohibition that brought down the Prakasham Panthulu government.

Latchanna left the Congress in 1951. He founded the State Unit of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), a powerful trade union that represents the industrial-class. He lost the Andhra Pradesh Assembly Elections during 1971. Many feel that the influence of Smt. Indira Gandhi is strong in Andhra Pradesh during the period.

Latchanna was arrested in 1975 Emergency Period. He later joined the Janata Party, moved to Lok Dal under the leadership of Charan Singh and later to Janata Dal under the leadership of former Prime Minister of India VP Singh. Latchanna always considers Senior Parliamentarian NG Ranga as his guru and considers Kasu Brahmananda Reddy and Neelam Sanjiva Reddy as his contemporaries. Pullela Syamasundara Rao, popularly known as Sombabu, is another guru and mentor for Latchanna. In fact, many say that, Latchnanna has put his guru's name to his son - Syamasundara Shivaji

Latchanan had a prolong illness and died in a private hospital in Visakhapatnam. His son, Gouthu Sundar Sivaji represents the Sompeta Assembly segment and won the elections on the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) ticket.

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