HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu called for a meeting with Kadapa district leaders tomorrow to discuss party’s strategy to be adopted for Pulivendula byelections.
Though the TDP initially thought of not fielding its candidate in Pulivendula, but later changed its mind.
“Naidu called for a meeting of Kadapa leaders tomorrow to elicit the opinions of district leaders. The party Politburo will take a decision later whether to contest or not,’’ a TDP senior leader said.According to party insiders, TDP will field its candidate in the Pulivendula byelections and use it an opportunity to expose the ‘misdeeds’ of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Showing posts with label YSR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label YSR. Show all posts
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Pranab to spot YSR’s heir
NEW DELHI: The Congress High Command has decided to send a three-member team led by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to Hyderabad to start the process of consultations with senior leaders and legislators to find a successor to late Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.
Sources said the team would reach Hyderabad on Thursday, a day after the seven-day mourning is over. The meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) would be convened after September 10 to elect a new leader.
The team would study the political situation and consult the party’s senior leaders before fixing a date for the CLP meeting.
“CLP decision would play a crucial role. But the high command’s decision is final. Andhra Pradesh is a special state. We are thinking a lot for YSR’s successor. The high command may take a final decision any day after September 12,” sources in the Congress said.
Meanwhile, supporters of YSR’s son Jaganmohan Reddy and those who are against him succeeding him, are camping in Delhi and lobbying for their leaders.
Among the Andhra Pradesh heavyweights present in the national capital are Union Minister Jaipal Reddy, MPs Kesava Rao, V Hanumantha Rao and Vundavilli Arun Kumar.
According to sources, the Congress high command is considering six names for the top post. The frontrunners include Jaganmohan, acting Chief Minister K Rosaiah, S Jaipal Reddy, PCC president D Srinivas and Rajya Sabha member K Kesava Rao. The party is is likely to finalise YSR’s successor only after the concurrence of Jaganmohan and adviser to state government Dr K V P Ramachander Rao.
Sources said the team would reach Hyderabad on Thursday, a day after the seven-day mourning is over. The meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) would be convened after September 10 to elect a new leader.
The team would study the political situation and consult the party’s senior leaders before fixing a date for the CLP meeting.
“CLP decision would play a crucial role. But the high command’s decision is final. Andhra Pradesh is a special state. We are thinking a lot for YSR’s successor. The high command may take a final decision any day after September 12,” sources in the Congress said.
Meanwhile, supporters of YSR’s son Jaganmohan Reddy and those who are against him succeeding him, are camping in Delhi and lobbying for their leaders.
Among the Andhra Pradesh heavyweights present in the national capital are Union Minister Jaipal Reddy, MPs Kesava Rao, V Hanumantha Rao and Vundavilli Arun Kumar.
According to sources, the Congress high command is considering six names for the top post. The frontrunners include Jaganmohan, acting Chief Minister K Rosaiah, S Jaipal Reddy, PCC president D Srinivas and Rajya Sabha member K Kesava Rao. The party is is likely to finalise YSR’s successor only after the concurrence of Jaganmohan and adviser to state government Dr K V P Ramachander Rao.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
YSR's son in UPA Cabinet?
HYDERABAD : While the path seems to be clear for Y S Rajasekhar Reddy’s lone son Y S Jaganmohan Reddy (Jagan), 36, the Lok Sabha MP from Kadapa, to take over as the new chief minister, it may not happen so. If indications from the Congress are to be believed, the party leadership would prefer the young politician as a minister in the Union Cabinet.
However, as many as 35 ministers handed a letter to Sonia Gandhi in Hyderabad on Friday morning , requesting her to make Jagan, an industrialist, the CM.
“It is good if they propose Jagan as the chief minister. He is young and dynamic. However, the decision has to be taken by the Congress Legislature Party” , said Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily, who is in charge of AP Congress affairs.
JAGAN WAS BEING GROOMED TO BE CHIEF MINISTER
Jagan is non-controversial , young, and was being groomed as the future chief minister by his father for the last two years or so.
“He can better understand his father’s ideals and line of thinking” , said Congress MP Lagadapati Rajagopal.
K Rosaiah, who took oath as interim CM on Thursday said, “I just obeyed the party high command to be interim chief minister. I will wait for the regular CM to take over” .
Pradesh Congress Committee chief D Srinivas said, “This is not the time to think of the next chief minister. The party has several eligible people including many seniors . Our party high command will soon take a decision on that.”
Congress insiders also point out that preference of anybody other than Jagan would only mean allowing the party to divide into groups again, to the advantage of the opposition Telugu Desam.
But the view of the high command seems different. It will be difficult for the young politician to face the politics of stalwarts. “The view is Jagan needs training and exposure before being vested with the responsibility of chief minister ,” sources say. Rosaiah is a noncontroversial Congress loyalist. But, his Delhi contacts are limited. “Here, Jagan will bridge the gap, while paving his way for growth” , the sources said.
JAGANMOHAN SAYS
However, Jagan said, “We need to be brave at this moment. Our primary objective is to take the welfare schemes initiated by the former CM forward. People and their welfare was close to YSR’s heart.”
However, as many as 35 ministers handed a letter to Sonia Gandhi in Hyderabad on Friday morning , requesting her to make Jagan, an industrialist, the CM.
“It is good if they propose Jagan as the chief minister. He is young and dynamic. However, the decision has to be taken by the Congress Legislature Party” , said Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily, who is in charge of AP Congress affairs.
JAGAN WAS BEING GROOMED TO BE CHIEF MINISTER
Jagan is non-controversial , young, and was being groomed as the future chief minister by his father for the last two years or so.
“He can better understand his father’s ideals and line of thinking” , said Congress MP Lagadapati Rajagopal.
K Rosaiah, who took oath as interim CM on Thursday said, “I just obeyed the party high command to be interim chief minister. I will wait for the regular CM to take over” .
Pradesh Congress Committee chief D Srinivas said, “This is not the time to think of the next chief minister. The party has several eligible people including many seniors . Our party high command will soon take a decision on that.”
Congress insiders also point out that preference of anybody other than Jagan would only mean allowing the party to divide into groups again, to the advantage of the opposition Telugu Desam.
But the view of the high command seems different. It will be difficult for the young politician to face the politics of stalwarts. “The view is Jagan needs training and exposure before being vested with the responsibility of chief minister ,” sources say. Rosaiah is a noncontroversial Congress loyalist. But, his Delhi contacts are limited. “Here, Jagan will bridge the gap, while paving his way for growth” , the sources said.
JAGANMOHAN SAYS
However, Jagan said, “We need to be brave at this moment. Our primary objective is to take the welfare schemes initiated by the former CM forward. People and their welfare was close to YSR’s heart.”
Thursday, September 3, 2009
YSR: A doctor with a finger on the public pulse
HYDERABAD: A doctor by training, Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy, or YSR as he was popularly known, was known for his strong administrative
YSR Reddy distributing articles to poor patients in Hyderabad. (PTI Photo)
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skills and whose second stint as chief minister of Andhra Pradesh this year broke a 53-year-old jinx for the Congress party.
This May, he became the first Congress chief minister since the state was formed in 1956 to complete a full five-year term and retain power in elections. The only other chief minister who achieved the fate was NT Rama Rao of Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
One of YSR's main achievements was subduing the ultra-left Naxalite insurgency in the state that had one time gripped 21 of its 23 districts. In the process, the People's War Group (PWG), once the dominant Maoist group in India, was crushed beyond recognition.
When he took over as chief minister for the first time on May 14, 2004 from N Chandrababu Naidu of TDP, it was a dream came true for YSR. The leader from the badlands of Rayalaseema had come up the hard way in his public life spanning three decades and emerged as one of the strongest leaders the Congress has produced in the state.
He has always been a winner. Elected to the state assembly for the fifth time, YSR is also a four-time Lok Sabha member and holds the record of never losing an election.
More than once he proved why he was more popular among masses with his fingers on the public pulse.
Popular as 'people's leader' among his followers, YSR tasted success despite facing a hostile poll campaign from both the TDP-led four party Grand Alliance and the Praja Rajyam Party of actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi.
YSR also emerged as one of the few leaders in the country to retain power beating the anti-incumbency factor. What has made his performance more creditable is the fact that he made no big promises and instead highlighted his performance versus the "poor credibility record" of his main rival N Chandrababu Naidu of TDP.
Banking on his performance and the numerous welfare schemes his government launched during the last five years, YSR retained power despite a three-cornered contest. The man who ran the Congress campaign on his shoulders emerged victorious in the face of hectic electioneering by top stars of the tinsel world in favour of TDP and Praja Rajyam.
Born to a Christian middle class family at Pulivendula, a small town in Kadapa district, on July 8, 1949, YSR made a modest beginning. Eldest of the five sons of YS Raja Reddy, a dynamic local leader in his heydays, he evinced interests in politics while studying at MR Medical College, Gulbarga, Karnataka.
After completing his MBBS, YSR served as medical officer at the Jammalamadugu Mission Hospital briefly. In 1973, he established a 70-bed charitable hospital.
He entered active politics in 1978 and was elected to the state assembly from Pulivendula. He served as state minister from 1980 to 1983 and retained the assembly seat in 1983 even when NTR swept to power with a historic victory.
Sensing a potential leader in him, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi appointed YSR president of the state unit of Congress when he was only 34.
In 1989, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Kadapa and held the seat till 1999, when he shifted again to state politics. From 1998 to 2000, he again served as president of the state Congress.
Though the party lost the 1999 state elections, YSR emerged as the strongest leader of the party and became the leader of opposition.
The year 2003 was a turning point in his political career as he undertook a 64-day padyatra, or walkathon, across the state. Covering 1,500 km under the scorching sun, he received petitions from people about their problems, mainly relating to agriculture and unemployment.
It was this campaign and a strong anti-incumbency wave against Chandrababu Naidu's government which catapulted YSR to power.
His experiences during the padyatra helped him shape his policies after assuming office as he gave free electricity to farmers, waived their loans, introduced several welfare schemes like pension for the aged, widows and handicapped, housing for poor, Rs2-a-kg rice, Rajiv Arogyasri or community health insurance scheme and a massive programme to build irrigation projects.
Thanks to these initiatives, the Congress won 156 of Andhra Pradesh's 294 seats and bagged 33 of its 42 Lok Sabha seats this time.
In a message on Independence Day on Aug 15, Reddy said: "The state has witnessed tremendous growth in the past five years when compared to the growth that took place since independence. Our people are a happier lot and are embracing a bright future without any fears."
YSR Reddy distributing articles to poor patients in Hyderabad. (PTI Photo)
More Pictures
skills and whose second stint as chief minister of Andhra Pradesh this year broke a 53-year-old jinx for the Congress party.
This May, he became the first Congress chief minister since the state was formed in 1956 to complete a full five-year term and retain power in elections. The only other chief minister who achieved the fate was NT Rama Rao of Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
One of YSR's main achievements was subduing the ultra-left Naxalite insurgency in the state that had one time gripped 21 of its 23 districts. In the process, the People's War Group (PWG), once the dominant Maoist group in India, was crushed beyond recognition.
When he took over as chief minister for the first time on May 14, 2004 from N Chandrababu Naidu of TDP, it was a dream came true for YSR. The leader from the badlands of Rayalaseema had come up the hard way in his public life spanning three decades and emerged as one of the strongest leaders the Congress has produced in the state.
He has always been a winner. Elected to the state assembly for the fifth time, YSR is also a four-time Lok Sabha member and holds the record of never losing an election.
More than once he proved why he was more popular among masses with his fingers on the public pulse.
Popular as 'people's leader' among his followers, YSR tasted success despite facing a hostile poll campaign from both the TDP-led four party Grand Alliance and the Praja Rajyam Party of actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi.
YSR also emerged as one of the few leaders in the country to retain power beating the anti-incumbency factor. What has made his performance more creditable is the fact that he made no big promises and instead highlighted his performance versus the "poor credibility record" of his main rival N Chandrababu Naidu of TDP.
Banking on his performance and the numerous welfare schemes his government launched during the last five years, YSR retained power despite a three-cornered contest. The man who ran the Congress campaign on his shoulders emerged victorious in the face of hectic electioneering by top stars of the tinsel world in favour of TDP and Praja Rajyam.
Born to a Christian middle class family at Pulivendula, a small town in Kadapa district, on July 8, 1949, YSR made a modest beginning. Eldest of the five sons of YS Raja Reddy, a dynamic local leader in his heydays, he evinced interests in politics while studying at MR Medical College, Gulbarga, Karnataka.
After completing his MBBS, YSR served as medical officer at the Jammalamadugu Mission Hospital briefly. In 1973, he established a 70-bed charitable hospital.
He entered active politics in 1978 and was elected to the state assembly from Pulivendula. He served as state minister from 1980 to 1983 and retained the assembly seat in 1983 even when NTR swept to power with a historic victory.
Sensing a potential leader in him, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi appointed YSR president of the state unit of Congress when he was only 34.
In 1989, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Kadapa and held the seat till 1999, when he shifted again to state politics. From 1998 to 2000, he again served as president of the state Congress.
Though the party lost the 1999 state elections, YSR emerged as the strongest leader of the party and became the leader of opposition.
The year 2003 was a turning point in his political career as he undertook a 64-day padyatra, or walkathon, across the state. Covering 1,500 km under the scorching sun, he received petitions from people about their problems, mainly relating to agriculture and unemployment.
It was this campaign and a strong anti-incumbency wave against Chandrababu Naidu's government which catapulted YSR to power.
His experiences during the padyatra helped him shape his policies after assuming office as he gave free electricity to farmers, waived their loans, introduced several welfare schemes like pension for the aged, widows and handicapped, housing for poor, Rs2-a-kg rice, Rajiv Arogyasri or community health insurance scheme and a massive programme to build irrigation projects.
Thanks to these initiatives, the Congress won 156 of Andhra Pradesh's 294 seats and bagged 33 of its 42 Lok Sabha seats this time.
In a message on Independence Day on Aug 15, Reddy said: "The state has witnessed tremendous growth in the past five years when compared to the growth that took place since independence. Our people are a happier lot and are embracing a bright future without any fears."
Andhra Pradesh CM YSR is dead
HYDERABAD:Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and four others have been killed, officials in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) confirmed Thursday, more than 24 hours after his helicopter went missing in a densely forested area.
"The bodies have been recovered. They will be taken to Hyderabad for post-mortem," a PMO official in New Delhi told IANS shortly after the mangled remains of the Bell helicopter were found on a hilltop in Kurnool, about 200 km from here.
Helicopters, search parties and villagers had conducted the search in pouring rain for a whole day and night in the forested hinterland for the wreckage, which was finally located about 40 nautical miles east of Kurnool town.
The 60-year-old chief minister, popularly known as YSR, was going to Chittoor, 588 km from this state capital, for a mass contact programme when his helicopter went missing in inclement weather around 9.30 a.m. Wednesday in the Nallamalla forests.
With YSR, who this May steered the Congress to a second stint in power, was his principal secretary P. Subramaniam, his chief security officer A.S.C. Wesley and the two pilots of the ill-fated helicopter -- Group Captain S.K. Bhatia and Captain M.S. Reddy.
The news stunned the Congress. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi are expected to reach Hyderabad Thursday.
There was shock, disbelief and tears in Andhra Pradesh as news came in that there were no survivors from the crash.
"He is my god. I can't believe that he is no more," said an inconsolable Congress worker.
Crowds gathered outside the state secretariat, the chief minister's camp office and Gandhi Bhavan, the headquarters of the ruling Congress.
YSR was last seen Wednesday morning when he went to launch the 'Rachcha Banda', a mass contact programme, in Chittoor despite apprehensions of bad weather.
It was only around 5 a.m. Wednesday that senior police officials in Chittoor district were informed by the chief minister that he would be visiting Anuppalle village to launch 'Racchabanda' programme.
A day after the budget session of the state assembly concluded, YSR had chosen a remote village in Anuppalle to launch the programme of surprise visits to villages to know people's problems.
Chandrababu Naidu pay homage to YSR
HYDERABAD - Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu Naidu and actor-turned-politician K. Chiranjeevi were among prominent state leaders who paid homage to chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy here Thursday.
State ministers, leaders belonging to the ruling Congress party and opposition parties, celebrities from the Telugu film world and various walks of life paid their last respects to YSR at the camp office.
The mourners filed past the casket kept on a flower bedecked platform with two portraits of the chief minister, who died in a helicopter crash Wednesday.
Naidu and Chiranjeevi laid wreaths and paid homage.
Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) MP and former actress Vijayshanti, Lok Satta president Jayprakash Narayan, leaders of the CPI and the CPI-M also paid their homage to YSR.
Veteran actor Krishna, Vijay Nirmala, young actor Jagapati Babu, producer and former union minister Dasari Narayan Rao and Raghuvendra Rao were among film personalities who paid their homage.
The chief minister and four others died in a copter crash in the state’s Nallamalla jungles Wednesday.
State ministers, leaders belonging to the ruling Congress party and opposition parties, celebrities from the Telugu film world and various walks of life paid their last respects to YSR at the camp office.
The mourners filed past the casket kept on a flower bedecked platform with two portraits of the chief minister, who died in a helicopter crash Wednesday.
Naidu and Chiranjeevi laid wreaths and paid homage.
Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) MP and former actress Vijayshanti, Lok Satta president Jayprakash Narayan, leaders of the CPI and the CPI-M also paid their homage to YSR.
Veteran actor Krishna, Vijay Nirmala, young actor Jagapati Babu, producer and former union minister Dasari Narayan Rao and Raghuvendra Rao were among film personalities who paid their homage.
The chief minister and four others died in a copter crash in the state’s Nallamalla jungles Wednesday.
Rosaiah breaks down while announcing YSR's death
HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister K. Rosaiah, who is likely to be appointed caretaker chief minister, broke down during a news conference Thursday while announcing the death of chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash.
The 76-year-old leader, the seniormost minister in the cabinet, could not control himself when he made the formal announcement that the chief minister had died.
"I had never imagined that I will have to announce this bad news. I am not able to digest his demise. The man who was working among us till yesterday suddenly disappeared," said Rosaiah, who has been guiding the state government in key policy matters during the last five years.
"People prayed across the state... prayed for his safety yesterday and throughout the night. There were prayers in temples, mosques, churches and gurdwaras but god willed otherwise," he said in a choking voice.
"We were working with Mr Rajasekhara Reddy till day before yesterday night. He was with us during the debate on appropriation bill in the assembly. After the bill was passed in the assembly, he went out and later telephoned me to inform that he will not able to come to the council and wanted me to take care of the same," he said.
"Late in the night he congratulated me. I wanted to know what was the matter. He said the assembly and council business is over and we will be a bit free. I am not able to describe the affection he was showing to me and other ministers," said Rosaiah.
The finance minister said YSR's death was not only a personal loss to him but a great loss to the state and the country. "He was only 60 and was healthy. He had a long life before him and would have done much more for people but fate cut short his life," he said.
The 76-year-old leader, the seniormost minister in the cabinet, could not control himself when he made the formal announcement that the chief minister had died.
"I had never imagined that I will have to announce this bad news. I am not able to digest his demise. The man who was working among us till yesterday suddenly disappeared," said Rosaiah, who has been guiding the state government in key policy matters during the last five years.
"People prayed across the state... prayed for his safety yesterday and throughout the night. There were prayers in temples, mosques, churches and gurdwaras but god willed otherwise," he said in a choking voice.
"We were working with Mr Rajasekhara Reddy till day before yesterday night. He was with us during the debate on appropriation bill in the assembly. After the bill was passed in the assembly, he went out and later telephoned me to inform that he will not able to come to the council and wanted me to take care of the same," he said.
"Late in the night he congratulated me. I wanted to know what was the matter. He said the assembly and council business is over and we will be a bit free. I am not able to describe the affection he was showing to me and other ministers," said Rosaiah.
The finance minister said YSR's death was not only a personal loss to him but a great loss to the state and the country. "He was only 60 and was healthy. He had a long life before him and would have done much more for people but fate cut short his life," he said.
Andhra Bhavan in gloom after YSR's death
NEW DELHI: A pall of gloom hung over the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in the national capital on Thursday following the death of chief minister Y S
Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash in Kurnool district on Wednesday.
Union minister of state for Defence Pallam Raju, who was among the first to come and pay his condolences, said the nation has lost "a powerful leader".
"The sudden passing away of our chief minister under tragic circumstances is a big shock to the people of Andhra Pradesh and the nation. Reddy was the leader of the masses and whose heart beat for the common man, the under-privileged and the farming community.
In his death country has lost a great and powerful leader. May god bless his departed soul and give strength to his family," Raju wrote in his condolence message.
YSR, as the Andhra Pradesh chief minister was popularly known, was on his way to Chittoor, about 580 km from the state capital Hyderabad, when his helicopter lost contact with the air traffic control around 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday.
The crashed helicopter with the bodies of YSR and four other co-passengers was sighted on Thursday morning by Indian Air Force choppers on a forested hilltop in Kurnool district, about 200 km from the state capital.
"He was a very powerful and important leader. He used to work for common man. He started a lots of irrigation projects. He implemented all the central and the state government schemes with full dedication.... big loss to the country. We will work in his name and fulfil his dreams," Raju said in his message.
A prayer meeting was organised at the Andhra Bhavan and a condolence meeting is scheduled on Thursday evening. Left leaders D Raja and Sitaram Yechury also came to pay their tributes. Indian flag was flying at half mast.
"It's a very tragic loss. When he won the recent assembly election emphatically, we all believed that he is poised to play a bigger role in the national politics. But this did not happen," Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury said.
Communist Party of India leader D Raja said: "He was quite friendly and generous person. He was a very affectionate leader. It's a very tragic loss." Union minister for tourism Selja also visited the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan to offer her respects to the departed leader.
The information officer of the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan Kiran Kumar told IANS: "Seven days of state mourning has been declared. Today (Thursday), tomorrow (Friday) and day after tomorrow (Saturday) will be institutional holidays. His funeral will take place on Saturday."
The happening Andhra cafe, which is visited by nearly 5,000 people daily, had fewer number of footfalls. The cafe decided to cancel its dinner services to mourn the death of the leader.
"People are sad. There is a definite decrease in the number of people coming here. Dinner will not be served on Thursday," supervisor Satyanarayan said.
Krishna Reddy, one of the visitors who came to pay his homage, said: "He (YSR) was one of the greatest leaders and a visionary. He worked for the common man. The people will miss him."
Joshua Jena, an NGO worker from Andhra Pradesh, said: "I met Mr. Reddy in 2006. He was a wonderful guy and a very dynamic leader who worked for the needy, the downtrodden and the minorities." "It's a great, great loss for the state. He did wonders for Andhra."
Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash in Kurnool district on Wednesday.
Union minister of state for Defence Pallam Raju, who was among the first to come and pay his condolences, said the nation has lost "a powerful leader".
"The sudden passing away of our chief minister under tragic circumstances is a big shock to the people of Andhra Pradesh and the nation. Reddy was the leader of the masses and whose heart beat for the common man, the under-privileged and the farming community.
In his death country has lost a great and powerful leader. May god bless his departed soul and give strength to his family," Raju wrote in his condolence message.
YSR, as the Andhra Pradesh chief minister was popularly known, was on his way to Chittoor, about 580 km from the state capital Hyderabad, when his helicopter lost contact with the air traffic control around 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday.
The crashed helicopter with the bodies of YSR and four other co-passengers was sighted on Thursday morning by Indian Air Force choppers on a forested hilltop in Kurnool district, about 200 km from the state capital.
"He was a very powerful and important leader. He used to work for common man. He started a lots of irrigation projects. He implemented all the central and the state government schemes with full dedication.... big loss to the country. We will work in his name and fulfil his dreams," Raju said in his message.
A prayer meeting was organised at the Andhra Bhavan and a condolence meeting is scheduled on Thursday evening. Left leaders D Raja and Sitaram Yechury also came to pay their tributes. Indian flag was flying at half mast.
"It's a very tragic loss. When he won the recent assembly election emphatically, we all believed that he is poised to play a bigger role in the national politics. But this did not happen," Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury said.
Communist Party of India leader D Raja said: "He was quite friendly and generous person. He was a very affectionate leader. It's a very tragic loss." Union minister for tourism Selja also visited the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan to offer her respects to the departed leader.
The information officer of the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan Kiran Kumar told IANS: "Seven days of state mourning has been declared. Today (Thursday), tomorrow (Friday) and day after tomorrow (Saturday) will be institutional holidays. His funeral will take place on Saturday."
The happening Andhra cafe, which is visited by nearly 5,000 people daily, had fewer number of footfalls. The cafe decided to cancel its dinner services to mourn the death of the leader.
"People are sad. There is a definite decrease in the number of people coming here. Dinner will not be served on Thursday," supervisor Satyanarayan said.
Krishna Reddy, one of the visitors who came to pay his homage, said: "He (YSR) was one of the greatest leaders and a visionary. He worked for the common man. The people will miss him."
Joshua Jena, an NGO worker from Andhra Pradesh, said: "I met Mr. Reddy in 2006. He was a wonderful guy and a very dynamic leader who worked for the needy, the downtrodden and the minorities." "It's a great, great loss for the state. He did wonders for Andhra."
YSR's death a great loss: Chidambaram
Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Thursday confirmed the tragic death of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YSR Reddy and the four other occupants in the helicopter.
He said the death of the chief minister has been conveyed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram confirms the death of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YSR Reddy and the four other occupants in the helicopter. Photo: Yashbant Negi/India Today
The home minister said, "Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YSR Reddy's chopper crashed 49 nautical miles off Kurnool. An Indian Air Force aircraft that was on the search mission found the wreckage of the chopper at 8.30 am on Thursday morning.
"The helicopter had broken into several parts."
He further said that the bodies are still at the accident site. "We are trying to get a doctor to the accident site, but it will take time following which the bodies will be flown first to Kurnool and from there to Hyderabad."
Chidambaram announced that the Cabinet will meet at 3 pm on Thursday.
"We are in a deep sense of grief, loss and shock on the passing of a tall leader. We send our condolences to the families of Reddy and the other four passengers in the chopper."
He said the death of the chief minister has been conveyed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram confirms the death of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YSR Reddy and the four other occupants in the helicopter. Photo: Yashbant Negi/India Today
The home minister said, "Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YSR Reddy's chopper crashed 49 nautical miles off Kurnool. An Indian Air Force aircraft that was on the search mission found the wreckage of the chopper at 8.30 am on Thursday morning.
"The helicopter had broken into several parts."
He further said that the bodies are still at the accident site. "We are trying to get a doctor to the accident site, but it will take time following which the bodies will be flown first to Kurnool and from there to Hyderabad."
Chidambaram announced that the Cabinet will meet at 3 pm on Thursday.
"We are in a deep sense of grief, loss and shock on the passing of a tall leader. We send our condolences to the families of Reddy and the other four passengers in the chopper."
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