In the heart-rending tragedy of Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy’s death in a helicopter crash, Andhra Pradesh has lost its most charismatic leader and the Congress its most politically talented and resourceful Chief Minister. A medical graduate, YSR, as he was widely known, was inducted into politics by his father, Y.S. Raja Reddy, a shrewd politician of Pulivendula in Kadapa district who was murdered by rivals. YSR proved a quick study. He became an MLA at the age of 29, a Minister two years later, and never lost an Assembly or Lok Sabha election thereafter. A devout Christian, he made pilgrimages to Bethlehem and Tirumala with equal piety, showing his broadmindedness. The real surprise was his metamorphosis from a factional leader whose detractors dismissed him as a rebel without a cause into a party unifier. The game-changing event was his 1500-km padayatra in 2003, which brilliantly tapped into mass unrest over the agrarian crisis and catapulted him to the seat of power a year later. For five years and three months, YSR strode the State stage as the Strong Leader. There was no effective challenge from the Opposition or, for that matter, from within what used to be a notoriously faction-ridden State Congress. Such was his self-assurance that when he made it back to power with a wafer thin majority, he did not perceive any real threat to his pre-eminence. He had accomplished something extraordinary in post-1971 Congress affairs: emerged from the long shadow of the high command without raising doubts about his loyalty.
YSR was a strategic risk-taker who looked around eclectically for ideas that would be useful to him and initiated a plethora of welfare schemes to alleviate extreme economic distress among the rural and urban masses. His most impressive political achievements were the confidence and can-do spirit he injected into his camp and the political credibility he won for his schemes through incessant mass contact. His tenure, however, was marked by controversy, with a number of allegations of corruption and misuse of power levelled against him and his regime. He also showed signs of intolerance of criticism, which was revealed in his government’s vendetta against the Eenadu group. YSR achieved the distinction of being the only Congress leader to serve a full five-year term as Chief Minister and was on course for a second full term. He tirelessly presented his mission as the transformation of agriculture and farmers’ lives and the ending of agrarian distress. His ‘Jalayagnam’ drive to irrigate ten million acres of land by 2014, his Agriculture Technology Mission, his vigorous implementation and expansion of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, and his schemes to supply rice at Rs. 2 a kg to the poor and provide free power to farmers won him enormous credibility on the ground. His death at the age of 60 is the kind of loss the Congress will find extremely difficult to recover from.
Correction
The second paragraph of “Death of a talented leader” (Editorial, September 4, 2009) said that YSR achieved the distinction of being the only Congress leader to serve a full five-year term as Chief Minister [in Andhra Pradesh] and was on course for a second full term. Kasu Brahmananda Reddy was the longest-serving Congress Chief Minister (February 29, 1964 – September 29, 1971) which is seven and a half years. YSR was at the helm for five years and three months. Brahmananda Reddy took over from Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy two years after the general elections in 1962. The general elections were held in 1967 and Brahmananda Reddy was at the helm for four years till 1971 when he was forced to step down in the wake of the Telangana agitation, without completing his full term. This means he served three years in one term and four in the other. YSR completed a full five-year term from May 2004 to May 2009 and became the only Congress leader to do so.
Clarification
A sentence in the second paragraph of “Death of a talented leader” (Editorial, September 4, 2009) was “YSR was a strategic risk-taker who looked around eclectically for ideas that would be useful to him and initiated a plethora of welfare schemes to alleviate extreme economic distress among the rural and urban masses.” “Plethora” could have been replaced with a “wide range”.
Comments:
What refreshing change it was to have a politician who made his promises to keep them!
When will we have another of the kind?
Too bad such a unique leader should die in tragic circumstances. He was surely expected to rule the state much longer, but it's not to be. He definitely did a few nice things to the state and everyone is now praising what a visionary he was. I am trying not to talk bad about dead people, but I find it appalling that most of these pundits ignore the one significant blot on YSR -- that he is THE MOST corrupt politician the state has ever seen. He took it to a whole new level altogether in the last 5 years, so much that people don't consider Congress government's corruption as an issue anymore. They just take it for granted...it's part of their lives. Strange how unexpected death can make change people's opinions about politicians - even Eenadu newspaper can't resist praising this guy now!
YSR never let any other leader worth his salt grow within Congress party in the last five years. Now that he is not here anymore, the real culture of Congress party will come out. We are in for a disgusting next few days for sure.
Death of YSR leaves a large vacuum in the affairs of Congress party. Thanks to him, his was the only State in India with no major factionalism.
I hope his colleagues wouldn't start fighting over who should lead the party in the State until after he is laid to rest.
Its a great loss for the country.Such leaders are a rare breed.
Man of masses. Man of a kind. Man of deeds. Very sincere in thinking about people. His schemes speak of his commitment to welfare of the poor. Words are not enough to describe his determination and character. No one can replace the vaccum of his absence. Irreparable loss to the telugus around the globe, AP and India. YSR Amar rahe. Jai Hind.
Its indeed a big blow for all of us. We should be confident enough in this hour of grief to mourn and to accept the change.
Not surprpising to see mean and jealous guys like Ashok who posted a comment on YSR above. People of AP know the fact and that's why they voted YSR back to power again. These jealous guys like Ashok are part of yellow brigade in Andhra whose only goal is to malign their opponents through their powerful media house. Despite people's fitting lesson, this yellow brigade fails to come to terms with reality.
Rumours are rife that YSR being a converted christian, tried to allocated two of the seven hills of TTD to a christian development authority led to his end. Whatever said and done, corruption has gone hand-in-glove with politicians.
a good administrator is lost with the death of YSR. it was not easy to control the factionalism and group politics in the congress party untill YSR took the lead.He has given a lot of moral confidence to the masses.Crores of people will miss him definitely.I think this he is the only congress politician who has attracted huge number of masses after rajiv gandhi.We can see it from the mourning he is recieving today from crores.
The sudden and untimely death of Dr Reddy in chopper crash has left a large gaping hole in the hearts of every Telugu people. It would be a very difficult void to fill in the long years to come. Dr Reddy has endeared himself to millions of poor people by his selfless service and steely determination to wipe out tears from every Telugu speaking person. .
This is a true loss to oppressed and downtrodden people of Andhra Pradesh whose welfare YSR took to his heart. A great loss for India too. May his soul rest in peace.
The untimely death of YSR is a huge loss to the country in general and the Congress in particular. People should follow his leadership qualities, helping nature and organization capabilities.
YSR Amar rahe...
It is not wise to speak ill of the dead. May the soul of YSR rest in peace. I recently visited India and noticed the utmost lack of facilities, cleanliness and infrastructure development in Hyderabad. The gleaming glass structures of "Hi-Tech City" tell only part of the story. The strange thing is common people have come to accept the corruption and sad state of affairs as normal.
The UPA has been shaken thoroughly by the successive demises of Sanjay Gandhi, Madhavrao Scindia,Rajesh Pilot and YSR Reddy. These losses can never be filled in. Anyways, we wish that YSR's soul rest in peace and his son be made his successor to fulfill his father's dreams.
As a leader he has done his part for his people. Played politics in a right way and saved good name for the country.
The game with the presence of talented leader came to an end. This is a great loss to our country.
Friend of the farmer. He was looked upon as an 'Elixir' for all the problems faced by the farmers. Though he was portrayed as an authoritarian, it was the circumstances of faction-ridden Congress which prompted him to be authoritarian. He had a vision to eradicate poverty and provide corporate health care to poor people. May his vision be carried forward.
I understand it's a natural human reaction to get emotional and get hyperbolic in attributing larger-than-life noble qualities to a dead person. Especially, a prominent personality such as YSR. It is certainly tragic the way YSR and the other four co-passengers have died. But as a political judgment of YSR political career, it is a much more complicated story, not much different from other Congress personalities. A good scholarly reference to understand YSR and his political history is: Andhra Pradesh: Beyond Media Images Author: K. Balagopal, Publication: The Economic and Political Weekly, dated June 12, 2004
He was the man of honour. A truly committed politician, working for the uplift of the poor and of the state. Rarely, do we see people crying and committing suicide after the death of a politician. A void has been created which is unable to fill, an irreparable loss. A grand salute to the great leader.
An able leader. May his soul rest in peace. I don't know how things are going to turn out within the Congress now. It is high time the Congress acted to free the state from the clutches of corruption. Yes, death does it all. All hagiography and praise for the dead.
@Ravi, Just because I criticized YSR, you put me in the yellow brigade! You are wrong. Contrary to what you think, I am not a big fan of TDP or its leader Naidu. I don't belong to any "color" brigade. I am just a common man who is disgusted with politicians who use noble causes to make money for themselves and their friends. Sure, lot of people benefited from schemes like Arogyasri. But it is also common knowledge that corporate hospitals inflate their medical bills to loot the government.
No one has ever received the people of his state with warmth, calling them "Ammalaaraaa.....Ayyalaara......" Modern-day politicians find it difficult even addressing people this way! Now the people Of Andhra Pradesh worry because the one who has given life through "Arogyashri" and widow pensions is no more. The one who brought smiles to farmers and students has faded; the one who gave life for SURVIVAL of CONGRESS at the state level is lost.
Lastly the people LOST an EverLASTING Personality.....!!!!
We love him for what he has done for the country......May his soul rest in peace......"JAI HIND"
YSR was an able leader. However his idea of perpetuating Congress was flawed. He seriously undermined the political freedom of opposition.
A great loss to India.
http://www.hvk.org/articles/0704/142.html and http://tinyurl.com/mz5g37
May his souls rest in peace and by not making YS Jagan reddy the CM soniaji please help us to live in peace and corrupt free society
Why does the media make people like YSR a hero? He is also known to be corrupt. Nobody questions how his son has become owner of company with a turnover of Rs.3500 crores in just few years!.