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Dr. Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy, popularly known as YSR, is an astute politician and a charismatic mass leader who has carved for himself a niche in State politics by his exemplary devotion and dedication to the uplift of the downtrodden and neglected segments of society. Born on July 8, 1949, in Pulivendula in the backward Rayalaseema region, YSR has always struggled to secure the rights of the poor and the underprivileged. Son of late Sri Y.S.Raja Reddy, a dynamic leader in his heyday, Rajasekhara Reddy evinced interest in politics right from his student days. While studying in M R Medical College, Gulbarga, Karnataka, he served as President of the Students union. He was elected leader of the House Surgeon's Association in S V Medical College, Tirupati. After completing MBBS, he 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 late Y.S.Raja Reddy at Pulivendula. His family established one polytechnic and one degree college in Pulivendula, which were later handed over to the well-known Loyola group of institutions. Rajasekhara Reddy's sound business acumen, entrepreneurial skills, and, above all, his transparency brought him laurels in the business arena. On the flip side, his success also brought him many adversaries, political and otherwise, who were desperately looking for a shred of evidence to prove umpteen charges against him. In the end, their mud-slinging did not yield a single point that could paint the mass leader in bad light. In fact, his detractors became red-faced, as they had to swallow their words. Groomed by a family deeply involved in public service, YSR entered active politics in 1978 and contested elections, four times to enter the State Legislative Assembly and an equal number of times to enter the Lower House of Parliament. A winner in all that he does, YSR won all the elections he contested. Even today his admirers exclaim: "He (YSR) defeats defeat." During his 25-year-long political career, YSR has served the people in multiple capacities, both in Government as well as in Party. He was President of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) twice - 1983-1985 and 1998-2000. During 1980-1983, he was a minister holding important portfolios related to Rural Development, Medical & Health and Education etc. From 1999 to 2004 he was the Leader of Opposition in the eleventh state assembly. As a champion of the masses, his stentorian voice in the assembly, raised particularly during debates that sought to lend voice to the voiceless millions, forced the Government to retrace several anti-people steps it contemplated. YSR has been instrumental in orchestrating several mass struggles, while highlighting issues facing peasants, weavers, Dalits, youth and women. His relentless fight for clearance of pending irrigation projects, particularly in the backward Rayalaseema region, has earned for him a special place in the hearts of millions of farmers. His unremitting struggle against certain anti-people economic measures that were sought to be introduced in the name of "reforms", including the frequent increases in power tariff and indiscriminate privatization of public sector units, exalted him far above the street smart politicians. Even as a novice in the legislature, YSR rallied all the Congress MLAs from the Rayalaseema region and led an indefinite hunger strike demanding solution to the water crisis. He also led a Paadayaatra from Lepakshi to Pothireddipadu in Kurnool district. The 14-day hunger strike of legislators under his leadership in August 2000 to register protest against the hike in power charges is still fresh in the memory of people. By systematically exposing the misdeeds of the then Government, both inside and outside the Assembly, YSR was playing his political role to the hilt. During mid-summer in 2003, he led an unprecedented 1400 Km long Paadayaatra covering all backward areas in the state to understand the ground realities of living conditions of the people there. Now, as Chief Minister, the crowning glory of this studded political career, he can proudly claim to be the quintessence of a politician who, with vision focused on the coming generations as well, has earned the title of a statesman. Amidst a bewildering number of turncoats among politicians, who thrive in "shifting loyalties", YSR stands out as a sterling example of the old guard in pristine Indian politics. This explains why he has never turned his back on the Congress party, which nurtured his political moorings. The lure of power and pelf could not divert him, when the party was briefly out of power, from his mission to hold the reins of power as a trusted lieutenant of the Congress and, more importantly, as a darling of the masses. Sworn in as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on 14.05.2004. YSR's Personality A modest Personality: Dr.Reddy,unlike most politicians, reflects the spirit of a true Indian who walks his talk.While his thought is dressed with all that is modern and ennobling, Dr.Reddy's person is invariably clothed in traditional costumes that include dhoti and a shirt made of handloom cloth.In all of his public and private conversations, he speaks from the core of his heart. Naturally, he hates hypocrisy. His Philosophy of Life: Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy strongly believes that the human life is a boon provided by the Almighty to share one's blessings with others, while serving less privileged human beings. His stature: Though measuring 5'7", Reddy looks majestically simple in his appearance with an ever-smiling genial countenance. This in fact overshadows his unfailing willpower to achieve his targets with the resilience and tenacity of a spider. His Mission: As around 75% of the population in India depend upon agriculture for livelihood, most administrative efforts should be focused on the rural economy, he believes. His Motto: Dr. Reddy's motto is that the ultimate objective of any program executed under a democratic set-up should be prompt and dependable delivery of sevices to the common man. His strength: Dr Reddy's strength lies in his stature as a mass leader since his advent in politics. Whether in or out of power, he has always championed the cause of the common man. This has endeared him to all segments of the Congress party as well. His 'pastime': A curious 'pastime' of Dr Reddy is to feel the pulse of people in rural areas on Sundays through the Rajiv Palle Batta. His Approach: The Chief Minister's emphasis on development of the rural economy does not presuppose a blinkered approach towards new and emerging technologies. ~0~ |
Friday, May 22, 2009
Sworn in as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on 20.05.2009. YSR's Personality. A modest Personality: Dr.Reddy,unlike most politicians, reflects spirit
AP Congress Manifesto
: • Revive economic growth and sustain the rate at 8-10 per cent
• New jobs to be created in horticulture, aquaculture, dairying and agroprocessing
• Long-term export policy for agro products and other commodities
• New technology, marketing and investments to be provided
• Revamp functioning of Khadi and Village Industries Commission for modern and technology-driven organisation
• Modernisation of coir, handloom, powerloom industry, sericulture, leather, pottery
• Enactment of national employment guarantee Act.
• Special focus on textile industry and greater thrust on labour-intensive exports to boost employment
• Cluster approach for small-scale industry development
• Reforms in rules and regulations in service industry * Establish national commission to monitor enterprises in informal sector
• One industrial training institute in each development block through public-private partnerships
• Revamp of employment exchange to meet demand and supply of labour
• Pursue ‘Agriculture First’ strategy in resource allocation
• Investments to be stepped up on irrigation, electrification, godowns, marketing, research and extension
• Agriculture credit to be doubled in next three years
• Introduce special technology extension programme for dryland farming
• Setting up of agricultural stabilisation fund
• Implement minimum wage laws for farm labour
• Modernise the railway network
• Expand investment in power generation
• Setup national rainwater harvesting programme
• Selective approach on privatisation
• Strengthen public sector in areas like infrastructure and make PSUs act as venture capitalists for new emerging areas
• Identify those sick public sector companies for revival with new management
• Establish National Manufacturing Competiveness Council
• Commits for world-class financial sector
• Eliminate fiscal deficit...
YSR greets Prime Minister, Sonia Gandhi...................
HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has congratulated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi on the victory of Congress in the elections under their leadership.
Fax messagesIn separate fax messages to them, he said he found no words to express his gratitude to them for guiding and leading the Congress to power on its own in the State.
New eraDr. Reddy was sure that the United Progressive Alliance Government under their leadership would usher in a new era of long lasting grandeur in the annals of independent India.
He assured that the State would continue to contribute to their massive efforts in achieving the goal.
Jaipal Reddy scrapes through in Chevella
HYDERABAD: Union Minister for Urban Development S. Jaipal Reddy won the newly-created Chevella constituency with a narrow margin of 18,472 votes defeating his nearest rival A.P. Jitender Reddy of Telugu Desam. He polled 4,20,483 votes while his nearest opponent polled 4,02,011 votes. Baddam Bal Reddy of the BJP polled 1,12,417 votes finishing in the third place.
The 19,983 votes polled by Kasani Gnaneshwar of Mana Party, who has apparently joined the fray to cut into the Telugu Desam votes, helped Mr. Jaipal Reddy to get the winning lead. Mr. Gnaneshwar, who has considerable following in Ranga Reddy district has good relations with Mr. Jaipal Reddy since his Congress days.
TDP winsThough the initial rounds scared him with the opponent taking a lead, Mr. Reddy came back with a good majority in some of the constituencies bordering the city while Mr. Jitender Reddy did well in the rural constituencies taking lead in Parigi, Tandur and Chevella Assembly constituencies that were eventually won by the TDP candidates.
The Union Minister got lead in Maheshwaram, Rajendranagar, Serilingampally and Vikarabad constituencies. Interestingly, Rajendranagar Assembly seat was won by the TDP candidate indicating that there was heavy cross-voting in that segment in favour of Mr. Jaipal Reddy. The Praja Rajyam (PR) candidate B. Raghuveer Reddy polled 22,737 votes in Serilingampally and 35,582 votes totally.
This is the second win for Mr. Jaipal Reddy against Mr. Jitender Reddy. Earlier, they contested in 1998 from Mahabubnagar.
YSR to be sworn in on May 20
GOOD SHOW: Governor Narayan Dutt Tiwari offering sweet to Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy for winning the elections, at Raj Bhavan on Saturday.
HYDERABAD: Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy will be sworn in as the Chief Minister on May 20 at the Lal Bahadur Stadium. Dr. Reddy is leaving for New Delhi on Sunday evening to call on AICC president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh besides the Central leadership to congratulate them on the party’s spectacular victory in the Parliamentary elections. He is expected to return to the capital on Monday.
Sources said Dr. Reddy’s election as the CLP leader would be a mere formality on May 19 as there was little doubt that he was the high command’s choice for the top job for the second successive term. It was on May 14, 2004 that Dr. Reddy was sworn as the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister called on Governor N.D.Tiwari at Raj Bhavan and discussed political developments in the State as well as the Centre. He was closeted with the Governor for 20 minutes. Official sources also pointed out that Ms. Gandhi complimented the Chief Minister on the party putting up an impressive performance. She is believed to have told him that the large tally of 33 Lok Sabha seats from Andhra Pradesh was crucial for the UPA to come back to power at the Centre.
Anjan Kumar Yadav scores impressive win
HYDERABAD: Albeit reluctant, he joined the fray and tasted victory the first time. And five years later, he now scored a more confident and convincing win.
For Secunderbad Lok Sabha seat, Anjan Kumar Yadav of Congress who handed an unexpected defeat to BJP’s Bandaru Dattatreya in the 2004 performed an encore this time beating the old rival with a rather impressive score. If the victory margin for Mr. Yadav last time was 68,758, his celebrations turned out to be more joyous on Saturday with the margin turning out to be more than 1,64,124 votes.
Mr. Dattatreya who won the seat thrice in 1991, 1998 and 1999 was a Union Minister in the NDA government but the party’s State president hopes of taking an electoral revenge were dashed by the former chief of Congress city unit. Mr. Yadav overcame the opponent’s campaign that portrayed him as ‘non-performer’ and that the constituency did not get any development in last five year.
Others who were left behind in the race by the bearded Congress leader included Shravan Kumar of Praja Rajyam, Sudhish Rambotla of TDP and Saleem of the TRS. The good showing by the party in almost all the Assembly segments of the constituency except for Amberpet, appears to have contributed in the final outcome.
Congress consolidates its position
All smiles: Congress candidate P. Vishnuvardhan Reddy is all smiles after winning the Jubilee Hills Assembly seat on Saturday.
HYDERABAD: The Congress which contested all the 29 seats in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts had further strengthened its position by winning 14 seats in the elections. A surprising development was the victory of the party’s rebel candidate Qutbullapur, K. Srisailam Goud taking the tally to 15 seats.
Though technically the ruling party fielded candidates in all the seats, it’s an open secret that it had fielded candidates in old city just to split the votes to ensure the victory of the MIM candidates in seven segments.
That would mean that barring the five seats bagged by the Telugu Desam in Ranga Reddy, one seat each by the BJP and Lok Satta, it had won all the remaining seats.
Another feather in the cap of the Congress in these two districts is the winning of three Lok Sabha seats in Malkajgiri, Chevella and Secunderabad, while its ‘undeclared ally’, the MIM retained the Hyderabad seat.
VictoriousCongress candidate Sarvey Satyanarayana emerged victorious in the newly formed Malkajgiri Lok Sabha constituency, which saw a keen multi-cornered contest.
Telugu Desam nominee T. Bheemsen, T. Devender Goud of Praja Rajyam and N. Indrasena Reddy of Bharatiya Janata Party were the serious contenders.
But the result came as a surprise with the TD candidate standing at second position, pushing the BJP and PR candidates to third and fourth positions respectively. Of the main political parties, only Congress and TD have a strong network in all the seven Assembly segments.
Thus, the main contest was between Mr. Satyanarayana and Mr. Bheemsen.
However, the Congress nominee was at advantage since some Assembly segments were part of the erstwhile Siddipet which he earlier represented.
Being an articulate leader, nature of easily mingling with the cadre and contact with the locals by virtue of sitting MP, were his other plus points.
Described as an outsider, the TD contestant was new to the constituency. He relied heavily on the party supreme N. Chandrababu Naidu’s charisma and its election-time cash transfer scheme and colour TV distribution promise.
Except Kukatpally, the Congress nominees in the remaining six Assembly constituencies were strong and won with convincing majority making it a cakewalk for Mr. Satyanarayana.
Surprisingly, the BJP which had strong base in Kukatpally could secure much less votes compared to its rivals.
Congressmen say ‘Jai ho’ YSR..................
Party’s performance in Telangana region comes as a bonus
Anti-incumbency factor worked against several candidates
HYDERABAD: Trust and trust alone in Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy tilted the scales in favour of the ruling Congress which retained power though with reduced majority.
In the triangular contest, Congress, after an initial neck and neck race with the grand alliance, crossed the magic half-way figure of 147 Assembly seats even as the party virtually staged a one-man-show in Lok Sabha seats.
The final results clearly showed voters belief in Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy for fulfilling the promises that helped the party upstage its rivals. Congress successfully neutralised the separate Telangana slogan as well as the populist promises made by the grand alliance and the Praja Rajyam.
Dr. Reddy, who was the visible face of the Congress in the election campaign went to the extent of owing moral responsibility for the victory or defeat in the do or die elections. Party leaders credited Dr. Reddy with single-handedly bringing the party back to power a rare achievement after 1982.
Surprise packageParty did equally well in all the three regions. Leaders are equally astonished at party’s performance in Telangana, where it won 50 seats against the formidable TDP led grand alliance.
However, several stalwarts like APCC chief D. Srinivas, Speaker K. R. Suresh Reddy and Ministers from the region bit the dust.
A senior APCC functionary attributed the party’s credible performance in Telangana to the lack of credibility of the TDP and the frequent ‘drama’ enacted by the Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao on the statehood issue.
Vote for developmentA senior legislator said the welfare and developmental programmes initiated in the last five years fructified. “Voters must have thought that the welfare and developmental programmes should continue,” the MLA remarked. Congress leaders said the credibility of the TDP stood exposed as the populist Cash Transfer Scheme and free colour televisions did not cut ice with the voters.
Leaders conceded that the anti-incumbency factor against several candidates denied Congress improving on its tally of 2004.
“While Dr. Reddy enjoyed lot of good will, the displeasure with the local candidates was reflected in the verdict. Or why else would the party win an overwhelming number of seats in the Lok Sabha and not do equally well in the Assembly,” they wondered.
Leaders also maintained that the Chief Minister’s remark that people from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions would have to obtain visas to stay in Hyderabad if Telangana State was created under the Grand Alliance regime appears to have caught the attention of the voters in the two regions.
Congress records near sweep in AP LS polls
Hyderabad (PTI): The ruling Congress on Saturdayrecorded a near clean sweep of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh, winning 32 and improving on its tally from the previous polls in 2004.
The TDP managed to win only six, one more than last time while the TRS slumped from five to two. MIM got one seat.
The result of Rajahmundry constituency, where the Congress was leading, was yet to be announced as the TDP sought recounting.
The CPI and CPI(M) drew a blank this time as did the BJP and Praja Rajyam Party led by matinee idol Chiranjeevi.
Union ministers S. Jaipal Reddy, Daggubati Purandeswari, M.M. Pallam Raju and Panabaka Lakshmi won from Chevella, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Bapatla respectively but another Union Minister Renuka Chowdary lost her Khammam seat.
Almost all the sitting MPs of Congress retained their seats and the party made gains in new constituencies like Karimnagar, Zaheerabad, Anakapalle and Araku.
Telangana Rashtra Samiti, that made loud noises over supporting the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance and making L.K. Advani Prime Minister, managed to win just two seats.
TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao, after trailing for many rounds, finally got the better of sitting Congress MP D. Vithal Rao by a margin of over 19,000 votes.
In Medak, film star M. Vijayasanthi won by just 6,077 votes. TRS had contested ten Lok Sabha seats as part of the Grand Alliance but lost eight.
"There was no transfer of votes among alliance partners, which led to our defeat," Mr. Rao complained after the results were out.
DR. YSR's medicine works in AP.................
However, as YSR tramped through the dusty hamlets, he was flooded by petitions. "This set me thinking, and that was the genesis of my policies," YSR had told TOI.
These include the massive focus on irrigation projects, Rs 2 per kg rice to the poor, Indiramma houses to the poor, old-age pensions, and Rajiv Argoaysri by which the poor can get specified surgeries of up to Rs 2 lakh free. "These will enable us to romp back to power," YSR told TOI in the run up to this election.
YSR learnt the ropes of realpolitik in the long years when he had been pushed into the wilderness by then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao. So well that he was the only Congress chief minister of AP left undisturbed by the Congress high command for five years. "I am loyal to my leader, my people are loyal to me. I do my work, and am not bothered about anything else," YSR replied to TOI.
YSR belongs to Rayalaseema where the enemy is killed slowly,and never pardoned. The doctor-CM has showed a facility for sending his rivals into a gory sunset. This time too, many of them, starting with AP Congress chief D Srinivas, who used to carry tales to Delhi, have bit the dust. The entire campaign had rested on YSR's shoulders. "I live by my courage and convictions," YSR told TOI.
YSR aims to increase AP share in Union Cabinet....
Rajasekhara Reddy is reportedly opposing the re-appointment of S Jaipal Reddy, Panabaka Lakshmi, Pallam Raju and D Purandeshwari as ministers on the grounds that they had not performed during their previous tenure. However, indications from the high command are that all the four of them would be taken back.
Jaipal Reddy, however, is also said to be angling for the Lok Sabha Speaker's post, for which Sushil Kumar Shinde from Maharashtra is also said to have thrown in his hat. "While Jaipal is more articulate in both English and Hindi, what goes in favour of Shinde is that he is a dalit," said the sources.
With reference to the other Union ministers, Purandeshwari has two things going in her favour. One that she belongs to the NTR clan and secondly, she falls in the category of a performing minister. "Congress president Sonia Gandhi and prime minister Manmohan Singh cannot drop Panabaka because she is a dalit, while Pallam too is said to be in the favourable books of 10, Janpath.
From his side, YSR is said to be pushing for his advisor and Rajya Sabha MP K V P Ramchander Rao, second-term RS MP J D Seelam, Vundavalli Arun Kumar, R S member M A Khan and Chinta Mohan. "Normally the high command is not inclined to give ministerial berth to first-termers, which may cut into KVP's chances. Seelam being a dalit, may have a chance while YSR can aggressively push the case of close confidant Arun Kumar. M A Khan may have a chance as no Muslim Congress MP has been elected from the state and Karnataka, while Chinta Mohan can claim a berth because of his vast parliamentary experience," said the sources.
But if seniority is the criterion, A Sai Prasad from Rajampet is also a six-term MP like Chinta Mohan. K S Rao from Eluru is a five-term MP while there are two three-term MPs in the form of M Srinivasulu Reddy from Ongole and M Rajamohan Reddy from Narasaraopet.
A dark horse who can make it to the Union cabinet despite opposition from the chief minister is Nizamabad MP Madhu Yaski. According to sources close to him, he is lobbying directly with 10, Janpath and stands a good chance of making it because of his proximity to AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi and also because he is a member of the BC community. Madhu's strong claims is based on the fact that he manged to win when stalwarts like D Srinivas, speaker Suresh Reddy and minister Shabbir Ali were humbled in the polls.
Among other eligible candidates, apart from the existing ministers, who are said to be in the race are A Sai Pratap, K S Rao, R S Rao, Sarve Satyanarayana and Kishor Chandra Deo. From the Rajya Sabha, hopefuls are V Hanumantha Rao, K Keshava Rao. "You have CM's choices and madam's preferences, so the final outcome can turn out to be tantalising," said a leader.
YSR’s second consecutive term as Chief Minister begins today
HYDERABAD: Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy will begin his second consecutive term as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh when Governor N. D. Tiwari administers him the oath of office and secrecy at a gala ceremony at the Lal Bahadur stadium here on Wednesday.
He was nominated as Leader of the Congress Legislature Party after the CLP went through the usual motions of adopting a resolution authorising the party high command to nominate the leader. A meeting of the CLP held on the Assembly premises late on Tuesday evening was adjourned for a brief while to enable Congress Working Committee member M. Veerappa Moily, who was present as AICC observer, to consult the leadership.
A little while later Mr. Moily announced that Dr. Reddy would be the CLP leader.
Earlier, on arrival from New Delhi where he attended the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting, the Chief Minister presided over the last meeting of his Council of Ministers.
After a brief discussion, the Council resolved to submit its resignation to the Governor, recommended dissolution of the 13th Assembly as laid down in Article 174 of the Constitution and take up further proceedings for formation of the new government.
Accompanied by Finance Minister K. Rosaiah, Dr. Reddy drove to the Raj Bhavan where he submitted to the Governor the resignation of his Council of Ministers. In his letter, he thanked Mr. Tiwari for his guidance and advice in the discharge of the responsibilities by the Cabinet. While accepting the resignation with effect from Tuesday afternoon, the Governor requested Dr. Reddy to continue in office till the formation of the new government.
The Cabinet earlier complimented the Chief Minister for the support and freedom extended for their effective functioning. It also adopted a resolution thanking the people as well as the administrative machinery that ensured translation of the programmes contemplated by the government into action. These developments followed the submission of the list of 294 newly elected MLAs to the Governor by Chief Electoral Officer I. V. Subba Rao. They included 156 of the ruling Congress.
Dr. Reddy, who addressed the emergency executive meeting of the AP Congress Committee, later averred that he would continue the development and welfare programme plugging the loopholes and see that there was no scope for criticism from any quarter.
CircumstancesMr. Moily explained to the participants about the circumstances under which the Congress won the election despite the “communal campaign” launched by the BJP and other parties. Andhra Pradesh, he said, played a historic role in the retention of the UPA government by sending 33 MPs.
HYDERABAD: Two days after YS Rajasekhara Reddy will be sworn in as the Chief Minister on May 20, his new Cabinet will take oath of office and secrecy on May 22.
As May 21 happens to be Rajiv Gandhi death anniversary, Rajasekhara Reddy, reportedly, decided to have the swearing-in of ministers on May 22 at Raj Bhavan. Changing the earlier plans, the last meeting of the outgoing Cabinet will be held here tomorrow evening and pass a resolution dissolving the Government. Soon after, Rajasekhara Reddy will meet Governor N D Tiwari and submit the resolution of the Cabinet. The Governor, would then dissolve the Assembly and request Rajasekhara Reddy to stay till the next Government takes over.The Congress Legislature Party meeting will be held after Rajasekhara Reddy’s meeting with the Governor tomorrow itself. It will formally elect Rajasekhara Reddy as the leader of the CLP.AICC incharge of AP affairs, Veerappa Moily and PCC chief D Srinivas will attend the CLP meeting.The next day, veteran Congress leader K Rosaiah will meet the Governor, inform him about the election of Rajasekhara Reddy as the CLP leader and request Tiwari to be given an opportunity to form the new Government. The Governor will accordingly request Rajasekhara Reddy to form the Government.It is also learnt that a five-day new Legislative Assembly session will begin either on June 1 or 2. Besides swearing-in of the new members, the Governor will address the inaugural session. When the House assembles, it elects a proterm Speaker who will conduct the proceedings of the House till a new Speaker is elected.Thursday, May 21, 2009
How YSR won Andhra battle............
A day before Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi launched his Praja Rajyam Party on August 26 last year, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy made the moves that would eight months later deliver a stunning victory to the Congress in the simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha polls.
With elections less than eight months away, the matinee idol’s raging popularity could mean a formidable political foe for the Congress. That was not YSR’s only worry. His main rival, Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu, was already making the moves to stitch together an alliance with the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and Left parties. “He foresaw that the party could lose its grip if he let Chiranjeevi and the TDP run the show. A quiet warning went to MLAs who were neglecting their constituencies to either perform or face the axe. Not getting enough support from a worn-out Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), the Chief Minister also took it upon himself to popularise the various government schemes for the poor. He emphasised that come what may, the Congress had to stay one step ahead,” says Congress leader Dr Tulasi Reddy.
YSR also drew strength from his son Jagan Mohan, a successful industrialist and managing editor of Telugu daily Sakshi, and a few confidants like Rajya Sabha MP KVP Ramachandra Murthy, and ministers Botsa Satyanarayana, Savita Indra Reddy and K Rosaiah. Rosaiah, the Finance Minister, never flinched whenever YSR demanded more funds for the government’s many schemes that included Rs 2-per-kg rice, free medical treatment for BPL families, free power to farmers, pension scheme for widows and the most popular ‘Indiramma’ free housing scheme.
YSR returns to power on pro-poor schemes, fans don’t vote for PRP
Y S Rajasekhara Reddy led the Congress to a second consecutive win on Saturday in Andhra Pradesh. Riding on pro-poor and populist schemes, the Congress retained power with a simple majority by winning 157 seats. The TDP-led Grand Alliance won 106 seats — 91 (TDP), four (CPI), one (CPM) and 10 (TRS).
Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party managed to win 18 seats. The BJP won two, AIMIM seven, and rebels and Independents won four seats.
The tie-up with the TRS and the Left proved to be disastrous for the TDP, as the TRS won in only 10 of the 45 seats it contested while the CPI and CPI(M) won only five of the 30 seats they contested.
Belying its own expectations and amidst predictions of a hung Assembly, the Congress rode back to power on the strength of its populist schemes, particularly the Rs 2 per kg rice, free power to farm sector, and Rajiv Arogya Shree free health care programme for the poor. The single most important factor that aided the Congress appears to be the half-a-dozen schemes implemented by the Government in the last five years. The party swept the Rayalaseema region and retained its hold over coastal Andhra.
The TDP, which was reduced to 47 seats in 2004 election, regained a lot of lost ground but could not break the Congress's surge. There were doubts in the Congress camp that it may lose its share of votes to the PRP in the nine districts of coastal Andhra. However, against all expectations, the Congress won 68 of the 124 seats in these districts. The party swept the four districts of Rayalaseema winning 32 of the 52 seats. In Telangana, the Congress won 57 of the 119 seats in 10 districts. The PRP failed to make any impact in East Godavari (four seats), West Godavari (one seat), Krishna (0), and Srikakulam (0) districts where it was expected to consolidate itself.
The Congress delivered a bonanza to the UPA by winning 34 of the 42 Parliamentary seats in Andhra Pradesh. The TDP performed dismally, winning only six seats, while the TRS won only two. Asaduddin Owaisi of the AIMIM won from Hyderabad for the second time. The Praja Rajyam Party, BJP and Left parties failed to win even a single seat. Aided by populist schemes, the Congress wrested even traditional strongholds of the TDP like Srikukulam where TDP politburo member and three-time MP K Yerran Naidu was defeated by Congress’ K K Rani.
Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s son Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy won the Kadapa seat.
Minister of State for Women Development and Child Welfare Renuka Chowdary lost from Khammam Lok Sabha seat. She was defeated by Nama Nageswara Rao of the TDP by 120,000 votes. Renuka had defeated Rao in 2004 polls by over 100,000 votes.
The four other Central ministers from Andhra Pradesh were re-elected. Minister for Urban Development S Jaipal Reddy won from Chevella, Minister of State for Human Resources D Purandareswari won from Visakhapatnam, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Pannabaka Lakshmi from Bapatla and Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju was re-elected from Kakinada. Jaipal Reddy was elected from the newly-created Chevella Lok Sabha seat by over 25,000 votes.
“We won because people were on our side. It was our alliance with the people,” said Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, taking a dig at the grand alliance led by the TDP.
YSR sworn-in as Andhra CM, emerges as a mass leader
Hyderabad:
Y S Rajashekhara Reddy is all set to be sworn-in as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh for his second consecutive term on Wednesday. The swearing-in ceremony is likely to take place at the L B Stadium in the evening. He was re-elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party on Tuesday evening. The new Cabinet is to be constituted on May 22. Confident after a stunning victory both in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, YSR met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi to discuss government formation. He also attended the meeting of the CWC as a special invitee. While YSR is likely to retain many members of his previous Cabinet, 14 of his former ministers have lost the elections. To accommodate more loyalists, YSR may expand his Cabinet from 34 to 40 and is likely to reward Telangana with more ministerial posts this time.
Powering the Congress to a spectacular win in the assembly and Lok Sabha elections Andhra Pradesh, Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who was sworn in on Wednesday as the Chief Minister for a second consecutive term, has emerged as an unassuming, crafty leader.
Overcoming a united opposition and anti-incumbency factor, YSR as he is popularly known, has romped home with ease winning for Congress 33 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats and bagging 156 seats in the 294-member AP assembly.
The only Congress chief minister of Andhra Pradesh to complete a full five-year term and also retain it, Reddy, 59, took charge of the state in 2004 at a difficult time for the party which had been out of power in the state for ten years.
It was a tough challenge for Reddy, the son of a mason in Kadapa district, but he has always thrived in difficult times.
After graduating in medicine and practising for a while, Reddy, groomed by a family deeply involved ion public service, began his political career with Congress in mid-1970s.
Having recognised his leadership qualities, the then Prime Minister and AICC president Indira Gandhi made him the chief of Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee way back in 1982.
But Reddy quit Congress following a split and joined Reddy Congress in revolt against Indira Gandhi. After the Reddy Congress was disbanded, he returned to the parent party and went on to become the PCC president again in 1997 when Telugu Desam Party was going strong and his erstwhile party colleague N Chandrababu Naidu was calling the shots in the state.
Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on Wednesday evening took oath as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh for a second consecutive term during a show of pomp and might at the L B Stadium here. Governor N D Tiwari administered the oath of office and secrecy to the 60 year-old at 6.32 pm as more than 20,000 party workers, newly-elected MLAs, MPs and party leaders cheered him on. YSR made history by becoming the first CM to have retained power since 1982 and to have completed a full term. YSR arrived at the jam-packed stadium with wife Vijaya Lakshmi and first-time MP son Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. YSR is likely to induct his ministers on May 22. Immediately after the swearing-in, YSR approved the orders to increase the quota of Rs 2 per kg rice from the existing 20 kgs per month to 30 kgs and increase free power supply to farmers from the existing 7 hours to 9 hours. Both were part of the Congress manifesto.
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