K. Pratibha Bharati

K. Pratibha Bharati (born 6 February 1956) is a politician from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. She is a former speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly (1999 –2004 ). She was the first woman speaker in Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. She was Minister of Social Welfare, Health Welfare and Family Welfare 1983, 1985 and 1994 and served as the Minister of Higher Education between 1995 & 1999. She won successively 5 times (1983 - 2004) from Etcherla by representing Telugu Desam Party.

Pratibha Bharati was born into a politically active Dalit family in Kavali in the Srikakulam district. Her father (K. Punnaiah) and grandfather (K. Narayana) had previously served as Members of the Legislative Assembly.