Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy

Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy Biography

Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy was an Indian politician from the state of Andhra Pradesh who served as the Chief Minister of the state two times. He belonged to Indian National Congress party. He was popularly known as YSR and he is notable for a number of welfare schemes and development programs launched by him for the people of his state. He was elected to the Lok Sabha four times from Kadapa constituency and to Andhra Pradesh assembly for five times from Pulivendula constituency. He won every election he contested.

He was born on 8^th July 1949 in Pulivendula, Andhra Pradesh. He married Vijaya Lakshmi and has a son Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy who is running his own political party, Y. S. R. Congress at present and his daughter is Sharmila. He is a doctor and was practicing medicine in his native Kadapa District. The hospital at Pulivendula was built by his father. His family owns a degree college and a Polytechnic college in Pulivendula. These educational institutions are given to Loyola Group of Educational Institutions.

He served as the Minister of State for Rural Development from 1980 to 82, Excise minster in 1982, Education Minister 1982-83, Leader of Opposition, Andhra Pradesh State Assembly in 1999 to 2004, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 2004 to 2009 until his death. He provided free electricity to farmers, founded Raji Arogya Shree, free health insurance program for people under poverty line, free public ambulance service, Rs.2/KG rice scheme, reimbursement of college frees for backward sections, reservations for minorities, etc.

He contested the 2009 election with the major slogan of Development and Credibility. His party won 156 seats in the assembly elections of 2009 when only 148 was required for majority. His party also won 33 out of 42 seats in the parliament election.

He died on 2^nd September 2009 in the helicopter crash at Nallamala forest area. All those who accompanied him also died and the bodies were charred beyond recognition and had to be identified based on the clothing. His body was buried on 4^th September 2009 at Idupulappai in Kadapa district. 

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Updated: July 20, 2011