YSR - A man of real grit and courage

Thursday, September 03, 2009 12:12:00 PM, ANI

Hyderabad: Dr. Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy famously known as Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy or YSR was a popular political figure in the South Indian politics.

Born in Pulivendula, Andhra Pradesh to Y. S. Raja and Jayamma Reddy on July 8, 1949.

YSR nurtured an interest in politics since his student days. Reddy was elected as the president of his college student's union while studying medical science in M.R Medical College of Gulbarga University, in neighboring Karnataka.

He was also president of the House Surgeon's Association of S.V. Medical College, Tirupati.

YSR also served as Medical Officer at the Jammalamadugu Mission Hospital for a brief period. In 1973, he established a 70-bed charitable hospital, named after his father Y.S. Raja Reddy at Pulivendula.

In 1975 Reddy was made the President of the Cuddapah District Youth Congress Committee. In 1978 he made his debut to Andhra Pradesh Assembly from his birthplace Pulivendula and retained the seat for six terms. Reddy's hold on the constituency was intact even during the Telagu Desam Party''s strong wave in 1983.

Reddy was one of those rare politicians of the country who never tasted defeat in electoral politics.

Reddy developed the Cuddapah region by pumping in funds and creating a solid infrastructure, making the constituency its neighbors' envy.

In 1980 YSR became Minister of State for Rural Development, in the Tengutri Anjaih Government. In 1982 he became the Cabinet Minister for Excise in the B.Venkataram Reddy Government and also held the charge of Education and Health department in K.Vijay Bhaskar Reddy Government in 1983.

YSR had earned the title of ''Cuddapah Tiger'' for his aggressive role in the state assembly.

In 1983, after the Congress party's tragic rout in the Andhra Pradesh, then Congress chief Indira Gandhi appointed YSR as the state party president at the age of just 34.

His dream of leading the state was shattered when he could not stop the TDP's march to victory in the 1984 Lok Sabha and 1985 Assembly elections. Reddy quit his position of APCC president.

 In 1989, he re-entered the political arena and was elected to the Lok Sabha from Cuddapah. He represented the constituency in four Lok Sabha.

In 1992, Reddy tried to succeed N. Janardhan Reddy as Chief Minister, when the latter had to quit following strictures against him by the Andhra Pradesh High Court for granting permission en masse to 20 medical and dental colleges. But the then Congress president and Prime Minister, P. V. Narasimha Rao, opted for his old friend Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy against YSR for Chief Minister.

But luck came his way again when Congress president Sonia Gandhi choose YSR to lead the party in Andhra Pradesh in 1999.Though Reddy could not succeed in stopping the TDP - BJP alliance from winning the 1999 election, the year 2003 proved to be his defining moment.

In 2003, YSR undertook a three month long paadayaatra, of nearly 2000 kilometer across the state. That helped him to become Chief Minister.

The Indian National Congress won a thumping victory both in the general and assembly elections of 2004 ensuing that Reddy became the 23rd Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

Reddy came back to power in 2009 with a slogan "Development and the credibility." In the elections, Congress secured the required majority in the assembly with 156 seats and also won 33 Lok Sabha seats.

Reddy also was Leader of Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly for five years between 1999 and 2004.

Reddy was married to Vijaya Lakshmi. They have a son, Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, a politician, and a daughter, Sharmila. Jagan Mohan is representing Cuddapah Constituency in the 15th Lok Sabha. He also owns Jagruti Publications and a new channel Sakshi TV. (ANI)

 

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