R. Krishnaiah was born on 13-01-1954 to Adivappa & Ramulamma in Rallagudipally village of RR district of Telangana. Completed B.Com from Sri Anantha Padmanabha college in Vikarabad, Rangareddy. Completed LLB, LLM in 1982, MA in 1984, MPhil from Osmania University.
President of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Castes Hostels Student Union in 1972. Students Leader at Osmania University from 1973 to 1989.
National President of AP and Telangana Backward Classes welfare association. President of AP and Telangana Unemployed Sangarshana Samithi. Editor and founder of B.C Garjana magazine — a pioneering publication giving voice to the BC community.
Political journey started with Telugu Desam Party. In 2014 elected as MLA for LB Nagar constituency, Ranga Reddy, Telangana. Later joined Indian National Congress. Fought for 35 years for the rights and welfare of Backward Classes.
Married Smt. Shabari Devi. Son: Rishi Arun (MBBS). Daughter: Rani Swetha Devi (MTech).