By Nandiraju Radhakrishna, Senior Journalist
YS Rajasekhara Reddy (called as YSR) is the first among those who are committed to their promises in politics. He was always known to fulfil every promise made during the election campaign. Sporting in traditional Telugu dress white Dhoti and white cotton full hands shirt, he brought recognition to Panchekattu. His behaviour and words were sober and always he was seen with smile. He was a born leader who tried to bring many changes in people’s lives.
As medical doctor
Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy, who is immortalized as YSR in the hearts of Telugu people, was born on July 8, 1949 to Raja Reddy and Jayamma in Jammalamadugu, Cuddapah district. Schooled in Bellary, passed PUC from Vijayawada Loyola College and studied medicine at Gulbarga University in 1972. He completed his house surgeonship from Sri Venkateswara Medical College, Tirupati and received his degree in medical education. After completing medicine, he served as a doctor in Jammalamadugu Campbell Hospital for a year, then worked as a medical officer in Jammalamadugu for a while, and later built a 30-bed hospital built by his father Raja Reddy and provided medical services, and was recognized as a 2 Rupees doctor.
An undefeated leader since 1978
Rajasekhara Reddy, who contested for the first time from Pulivendula Assembly Constituency in 1978, on his father’s wish, won against Janata Party candidate Narayana Reddy with a majority of 20,496 votes. He never faced defeat in any election till stepped into AP Legislative Assembly in 2009 and became Chief Minister. In 1978, 1983, and 1985 he won as an MLA and scored a hat trick. Later, to rise at the national level, in 1989 he contested to Lok Sabha from the Cuddapah constituency and won.
In 1991, 1996 and 1998, he again achieved a hat-trick as MP. He contested for the parliamentary seat four times in a row and won a rare victory. He won every election he contested and got the honour. Rajasekhara Reddy set up the record in history as an unbeaten hero by getting elected 4 times as Member of Parliament, 6 times as MLA, 2 times as PCC President, 3 times as CLP leader, 2 times as Chief Minister and a guide to political leaders.
YSR held Minister of State for Rural Development in 1980, Excise in 1982 and Minister of State for Education from 1983–85. In 1998, he took over the duties of PCC president. In 1999, he was elected as the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly when the TDP was in power in the united Andhra Pradesh. After focusing on the legislative assembly elections with the goal of development of the state, in 1999 he contested as an MLA from Pulivendula and won. He proved himself as a strong leader of the party. After that, he won as MLA from the same constituency in the elections held in 2004 and 2009. He was appreciated by people regardless of the parties that once he gave a word, he would try to fulfill it no matter how difficult it was.
Praja Prasthanam – life to Congress
YSR had commenced ‘padayatra’ in 2003 christened as the Praja Prasthanam, a walkathon designed and completed by him brought life to the Congress party which had lost power for two consecutive terms and was in the abyss. In 2004 elections the Congress party won an unexpected victory and brought it to power. In the summer of 2003, he undertook a padayatra from Chevella to Ichhapuram and traveled about 1,467 kilometers. In this trip, he mingled with people everywhere and got to know their problems. People from all walks of life saw their problems and were moved.
He had a complete understanding of farmers’ problems in particular. Before the end of the tour, he had a complete understanding of people’s problems and solutions. In this trip, YSR received support from people and fans everywhere. People also understood his sincerity and gave him a great victory in the next elections. YS Rajasekhara Reddy, who led the party towards victory, was elected as the Chief Minister.
As Chief Minister…
On May 14, 2004, he took oath as the Chief Minister for the first time and signed the first and third signatures on free electricity and cancellation of pending electricity dues to fulfil the promise given to the people during the Padayatra. Indiramma houses, pensions, four Anas interest loans, Rajiv Arogyashri, issuance of ration cards, fee reimbursement for poor students, Jalayaj, 108, 104 medical services, Rs 2 per kg rice, establishment of triple IT, establishment of RIMS government hospitals, Oketemiti, suitable schemes for all communities. He contested the 2009 elections in the name of credibility and won 156 assembly seats and 33 parliamentary seats single-handed. On May 20, 2009, he was once again sworn in as the Chief Minister in front of the people.
Given Life to lakhs
In the rule of YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Arogyashri means an assurance, a social security. Arogyasree Card is Sudarshana Chakra which has come into the hands of common, middle class and lower middle class. It was introduced in 3 districts in the first phase in 2007 and treated 163 types of diseases. By 2008, Arogyasree was extended to the whole of Andhra Pradesh. As of 2009, 942 diseases were treated free of cost.
About 3 lakh cancer sufferers, about 3.5 lakh heart disease victims have been treated under Arogyashri. About Rs 6.5 lakhs were spent for each child to install cochlear implants for those born deaf and dumb. Spending Rs 1,400 crores annually on a scheme, exactly seventeen years ago was unimaginable.
He dreamed of making a change in people’s lives, and on September 2, 2009, while going to the people in the name of Ratchabanda program to examine the nature of government schemes, he breathed his last in a helicopter accident. Even though he is physically no more, he will always remain strong in the hearts and memories of the Telugu people.
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