Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy
{{Short description|14th Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Pp-semi-indef}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy
| image = YS_Rajasekhara_Reddy_2010_stamp_of_India.jpg
| caption = YSR Postal Stamp 2010{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/ysr-stamp-to-be-released-on-sept-2/articleshow/6389474.cms |title=YSR stamp to be released on Sept.2 |newspaper=The Times of India |date=22 August 2010 }}
| office = 14th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
| term_start = 14 May 2004{{cite web | url=https://www.rediff.com/election/2004/may/13ysr.htm | title=The 'perpetual dissident' finally becomes CM }}{{cite web | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/ysr-swornin-as-andhra-cm-emerges-as-a-mass-leader/lite/ | title=YSR sworn-in as Andhra CM, emerges as a mass leader | date=20 May 2009 }}
| term_end = 2 September 2009Rajasekhara Reddy, four others killed in helicopter crash – https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Rajasekhara-Reddy-four-others-killed-in-helicopter-crash/article16878911.ece
| governor =
| subterm = Cabinet
| suboffice =
| predecessor = N. Chandrababu Naidu
| successor = Konijeti Rosaiah
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Additional ministries}}
| 1blankname1 = Ministry and Departments
| 1namedata1 =
- General Administration
- Law & Order
- Other departments not allocated to any Minister
| term_start1 = 14 May 2004
| term_end1 = 2 September 2009
| successor1 = Konijeti Rosaiah
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
| office2 = 12th Leader of the Opposition
Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly
| term_end2 = 14 November 2003
| governor2 =
| 1blankname2 = Chief Minister
| 1namedata2 = N. Chandrababu Naidu
| predecessor2 = P. Janardhan Reddy
| successor2 = N. Chandrababu Naidu
| office3 = Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
| term_start3 = 2 December 1989
| term_end3 = 26 April 1999
| predecessor3 = D. N. Reddy
| successor3 = Y. S. Vivekananda Reddy
| constituency3 = Kadapa
| office4 = 22th President of
Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee
| term_start4 = 1998
| term_end4 = 1999
| 1blankname4 = AICC President
| 1namedata4 = Sonia Gandhi
| predecessor4 = Konijeti Rosaiah
| successor4 = Satyanarayana Rao
| term_start5 = 1983
| term_end5 = 1985
| 1blankname5 = AICC President
| 1namedata5 =
| predecessor5 = Gaddam Venkatswamy
| successor5 = Jalagam Vengala Rao
| office6 = Minister of Excise,
Rural Development and Education{{cite web|url=https://www.andhrafriends.com/topic/9951-rajasekhar-reddy-profile/ |title=Rajasekhar Reddy Profile |date=3 September 2009 }}
{{small|Government of Andhra Pradesh}}
| term_start6 = 1980
| term_end6 = 1983
| governor6 = K. C. Abraham
| 1blankname6 = Chief Minister
| 1namedata6 =
| successor6 =
- Tatiparthi Jeevan Reddy
- Pusapati Ananda Gajapathi Raju
- Karanam Ramachandra Rao
| office7 = Member of Legislative Assembly
Andhra Pradesh
| term_start7 = 11 October 1999
| term_end7 = 2 September 2009
| predecessor7 = Y. S. Vivekananda Reddy
| successor7 = Y. S. Vijayamma
| constituency7 = Pulivendla
| term_start8 = 5 March 1978
| term_end8 = 28 November 1989
| predecessor8 = Penchikala Basi Reddy
| successor8 = Y. S. Vivekananda Reddy
| constituency8 = Pulivendla
| birth_name = Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy
| birth_date = {{birth date|1949|7|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = Pulivendula, Madras State (present-day Andhra Pradesh), India
| death_date = {{death date and age|2009|9|2|1949|7|8|df=y}}
| death_place = Nallamala Hills, Andhra Pradesh, India
| death_cause = Helicopter crash
| resting_place = YSR Ghat, Idupulapaya
| party = Indian National Congress
| spouse = {{marriage|Y.S. Vijayalakshmi|1971}}
| children = Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy (son)
Y. S. Sharmila (daughter)
| father = Y. S. Raja Reddy
| relatives = Y. S. Vivekananda Reddy (brother)
Y. S. Avinash Reddy (nephew)
| education = MBBS
| alma_mater = Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College
| profession = {{hlist|Physician|Politician}}
}}
Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy (8 July 1949 – 2 September 2009), popularly known as YSR, was an Indian politician. He served as the 14th chief minister of Andhra Pradesh from 2004 to 2009. Reddy was elected (1989, 1991, 1996 and 1998) four terms to the Lok Sabha from Kadapa and was also elected (1978, 1983, 1985, 1999, 2004 and 2009) six terms to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly from Pulivendula. Over the course of his career, he won every election that he contested, either to Assembly or Lok Sabha.
On 2 September 2009, a helicopter carrying Reddy went missing in the Nallamala Forest area. It was later confirmed to have crashed with all five people including Reddy pronounced dead.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Death-came-without-warning-for-YSR/articleshow/5187509.cms|title=Death came without warning for, YSR|newspaper=The Times of India|date=2 November 2009|access-date=18 December 2019}}
Padayatra
In 2003, he undertook a three-month-long padayatra covering {{convert|1500|km}} in 60 days across 11 districts of Andhra Pradesh as a part of his election campaign. He led the Congress party to victory in the 2004 and 2009 assembly elections.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/tragedies-dog-the-yeduguri-sandinti-family/article26568205.ece|title=Tragedies in Yeduguri Sandinti Family|newspaper=The Hindu|date=21 March 2019|access-date=18 December 2019}}
Early and personal life
Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy was born on 8 July 1949 in Pulivendula, Kadapa district, Madras State (present day Andhra Pradesh) into a Christian Reddy family of Y. S. Raja Reddy, as eldest of five sons.{{cite book|first1=Prasada|last1=Reddy|first2=T.|last2=Sivarama|title=An Autobiography of Y. S. Chinna Konda Reddy|publisher=Y. S. Prakash Reddy|location=Kadapa|year=2010|url=https://www.uecf.net/books/konda_reddy_english.pdf}}{{Cite journal|last=Srinivasulu|first=K|year=2009|title=Y S Rajasekhara Reddy: A Political Appraisal|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25663561|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|volume=44|issue=38|pages=8–10|jstor=25663561|issn=0012-9976}} Rajasekhara Reddy completed his medical studies in Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College, Gulbarga, Karnataka and served as medical officer at CSI-Campbell Mission Hospital, Jammalamadugu after completing his studies. In 1973, he established a 70-bed hospital.{{cite news|title=YSR: A doctor with a finger on the public pulse|url=http://archive.mid-day.com/news/2009/sep/030909-ysr-obituary.htm|access-date=25 October 2016|work=Mid-Day|publisher=IANS|date=3 September 2009|location=Hyderabad|archive-date=25 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725120216/http://archive.mid-day.com/news/2009/sep/030909-ysr-obituary.htm|url-status=dead}} His father Raja Reddy, was assassinated in a bomb attack on 23 May 1998.{{Cite news|last=Somasekhar|first=M.|date=18 March 2019|title=Tragedies dog the Yeduguri Sandinti family|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/tragedies-dog-the-yeduguri-sandinti-family/article26568205.ece|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422051756/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/tragedies-dog-the-yeduguri-sandinti-family/article26568205.ece|archive-date=22 April 2021|access-date=19 May 2021|newspaper=The Hindu}}
Reddy was married to Vijaya Lakshmi.{{cite news|title=More cheap rice, free power|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/More-cheap-rice--free-power/463064|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=21 May 2009|access-date=12 June 2009}} They had a son Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy and a daughter Y. S. Sharmila.{{cite news|title=YSR leaves for pilgrimage to Israel|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200905271081.htm|newspaper=The Hindu|date=27 May 2009|access-date=3 June 2009}} His son Jagan and younger brother Y. S. Vivekananda are also politicians. Reddy was a practicing Christian and visited Bethlehem, Palestine, twice.{{cite news|last=Sai|first=J S|date=7 September 1999|title=In Cuddapah, YSR is king|url=http://www.rediff.com/election/1999/sep/07ysr.htm|access-date=10 September 2009|publisher=Rediff}}
Career
Rajasekhara Reddy joined Indian National Congress in 1978 and won the 1978 legislative assembly elections from Pulivendula. He became minister for Rural Development from 1980 and later shifted to the Excise Ministry in 1982 and Education in 1982–83. He won the 1983 and 1985 elections from the same constituency. He was appointed the state president of the Congress party by Indira Gandhi. He won from Kadapa Parliamentary constituency for four terms in 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th Lok Sabha. Of the successful streak of his presentation for a decade, his constituencies are well developed with Concrete Roads and drinking water taps in streets almost.{{Cite web | title=Rediff On The NeT: The Election Profile/ Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy | url=https://m.rediff.com/election/1999/sep/07ysr.htm | access-date=2025-02-18 | website=m.rediff.com}} In the two decades of his career, His family run several colleges in Pulivendla but the institutions are handed over to Loyola College as no one in the family has time.
=Leader of the Opposition (1999-2004)=
He returned to state politics and won the 1999 assembly elections from the same Pulivendula constituency and served as leader of opposition in Andhra Pradesh State Assembly from 1999 to 2004.{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/21/stories/2009042160161400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424104837/http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/21/stories/2009042160161400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 April 2009|title=YSR's pocket borough|location=India|date=21 April 2009|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=23 May 2011}} Always clad in dhoti in Andhra style, YSR is an expert in rural economy.Always clad in dhoti in Andhra style, YSR is an expert in rural economy. In 2003, he undertook a three-month-long padayatra covering {{convert|1500|km}} in 60 days across 11 districts of Andhra Pradesh as a part of his election campaign.{{cite news|title=YSR's padayatra to begin on April 9|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/ysrs-padayatra-to-begin-on-april-9/articleshow/42102373.cms|newspaper=The Times of India|date=2 April 2003|access-date=1 December 2023}} Lead the state-wide campaign yatras, he mobilised people's support in these marches for the party in the face of a hi-tech campaign and media blitzkrieg by the ruling party.
It was now or never for Reddy.{{Cite web | title=YSR is the man of the moment in Andhra Pradesh {{!}} Latest News India - Hindustan Times | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/ysr-is-the-man-of-the-moment-in-andhra-pradesh/story-UHW97vqNmwwbi5vaUK6cdM.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928235937/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/ysr-is-the-man-of-the-moment-in-andhra-pradesh/story-UHW97vqNmwwbi5vaUK6cdM.html | access-date=2025-02-18 | archive-date=2023-09-28}} He had declared that he would quit politics if the Congress failed to return to power in the state. His close aides said he always had the ambition of becoming chief minister. In a protest against assassination plot for then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Nara Chandrababu Naidu, He underscored the point that the State bureaucracy had become complacent.{{Cite web | title=A blast and its shock - Frontline | url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/article30219569.ece/ | access-date=2025-02-18 | website=frontline.thehindu.com}}
=Chief Ministership (2004–09)=
Reddy led the congress party to victory in the 2004 assembly election and served as the 14th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 2004 to 2009. During his tenure as Chief Minister, he enacted schemes to provide free electricity for farmers, a health insurance program for rural people living below the poverty line,{{cite news|title=YSR wants Arogyasree, 108 and 104 under one umbrella|url=http://expressbuzz.com/States/andhrapradesh/ysr-wants-arogyasree-108-and-104-under-one-umbrella/69101.html}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} a free public ambulance service,{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/06/stories/2009090653900400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090908082713/http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/06/stories/2009090653900400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 September 2009|location=Chennai, India|work=The Hindu|title=108 service was YSR's brainchild|date=6 September 2009}} low interest loans to rural women, subsidised housing for the rural poor,{{cite report|url=http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTARD/EXTRURLIV/0,,contentMDK:22027188~pagePK:64168445~piPK:64168309~theSitePK:5097010,00.html#ComProf|title=Rural livelihoods – Andhra Pradesh Rural Poverty Reduction|publisher=World bank|access-date=23 May 2011}} subsidized rice,{{cite news|first=K.V.V.V.|last=Charya|title=Rs 2/kg rice to add Rs 3,000cr burden on Andhra coffers|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/rs-2-kg-rice-to-add-rs-3-000cr-burden-on-andhra-coffers/248572/|newspaper=The Financial Express |date=10 December 2007|access-date=28 May 2009}} reimbursement of college fees for underprivileged and reservation for minorities.{{cite news|title =NREGA: Andhra Pradesh shows the way|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/08/stories/2008090856271000.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911011228/http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/08/stories/2008090856271000.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 September 2008|location=Chennai, India|work =The Hindu|date=8 September 2008}} His tenure also saw the weakening of the violent extremist left-wing Naxalite movement that was rampant in the state. He commenced the Jala Yagnam project to irrigate {{convert|10000000|acre|ha|order=flip}} of land through the construction of major, medium and minor irrigation projects.{{cite news|author=Ram Goginei|url=http://jalayagnam.org/index1.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071108205434/http://jalayagnam.org/index1.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 November 2007|title=Jalayagnam in Andhra Pradesh, India|publisher=Jalayagnam.org|access-date=23 May 2011}}
Aarogyasri Scheme
Apart from the last three 5 year plans, which advocated PPP in health-care, other factors led to starting of Aarogyasri in AP. Jayati Ghosh committee{{Cite web | title=MacroScan - Report of the Commission on Farmers' Welfare, Government of Andhra Pradesh | url=https://www.macroscan.org/pol/apr05/pol070405Andhra_Pradesh.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330002459/http://www.macroscan.org:80/pol/apr05/pol070405Andhra_Pradesh.htm | access-date=2025-02-18 | archive-date=2016-03-30}} on the farmer's suicide in AP brought out the precarious health conditions due to economic distress in the agriculture sector and suggested free care of the poor by the private hospitals, which have benefitted from state subsidies. These recommendations of the report became convenient support to him, being a medical doctor himself, to provide this innovative health-care scheme for all, through corporate hospitals. Earlier CM relief fund had spent Rs. 168.52 crores to help 55,362 below the poverty line (BPL) patients needing hospitalization.
Simultaneously, Dalit movement highlighted problems of young children with heart ailments in the state. Soon, He announced free heart surgeries for these children, by August 2006, 4600 children were operated under the CM relief fund. This magnanimous gesture set the stage for Aarogyasri scheme.
=Second term as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (2009)=
He led the congress party to victory in the 2009 assembly election, winning 156 seats in the assembly.{{cite news|title=YSR's performance, credibility behind Congress magic in Andhra|url=http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?a=jfrrzrbabjh&title=YSR_s_performance_credibility_behind_Congress_magic_in_Andhra&tag=Ysr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209021520/http://www.sify.com/news/fullstory.php?a=jfrrzrbabjh&title=YSR_s_performance_credibility_behind_Congress_magic_in_Andhra&tag=Ysr|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 December 2014|work=Sify}} He became the first incumbent chief minister from Congress since 1969 (Kasu Brahmananda Reddy made) to win and was sworn in as the 15th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on 20 May 2009.{{cite news|agency=Press Trust of India|date=3 September 2009|title=YSR: From aggressive politician to mass leader|language=en-IN|newspaper=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/YSR-From-aggressive-politician-to-mass-leader/article16878912.ece|url-status=live|access-date=19 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620063938/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/YSR-From-aggressive-politician-to-mass-leader/article16878912.ece|archive-date=20 June 2023|issn=0971-751X}}{{cite web|title=The tragedy and the trend|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-tragedy-and-the-trend/513157/3|date=5 September 2009|work=The Indian Express|location=India|access-date=10 September 2009}}{{cite news|title=YSR Reddy sworn-in as Andhra Pradesh CM|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=4872e4d1-4b57-4793-acc9-1dd228fa3a13&Headline=YSR+Reddy+sworn-in+as+Andhra+Pradesh+CM|archive-url=https://archive.today/20090910034602/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=4872e4d1-4b57-4793-acc9-1dd228fa3a13&Headline=YSR+Reddy+sworn-in+as+Andhra+Pradesh+CM|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 September 2009|date=20 May 2009|newspaper=Hindustan Times|access-date=21 May 2009 }} He termed the results the "people's victory" and vowed to continue welfare and development schemes, especially construction of irrigation projects.{{Cite web | title=YSR retains power in Andhra - India Today | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/assembly-polls-2009/andhra-pradesh/story/ysr-retains-power-in-andhra-47664-2009-05-15 | access-date=2025-02-18 | website=www.indiatoday.in}}
Disappearance and death
{{Main|2009 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister helicopter crash}}
File:The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh paying homage at the mortal remains of the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, late Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh on September 04, 2009.jpg paying homage at the mortal remains of Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy]]
On 2 September 2009, Reddy's was traveling in a Bell 430 helicopter and the Begumpet and Shamshabad air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at 10:02 am while it was passing through the dense Nallamala forest area.{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Andhra-Pradesh-Chief-Minister-YS-Rajasekhara-Reddy-Missing/H1-Article1-449644.aspx|title=Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy Missing|newspaper=Hindustan Times|date=2 September 2009|access-date=23 May 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629213400/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Andhra-Pradesh-Chief-Minister-YS-Rajasekhara-Reddy-Missing/H1-Article1-449644.aspx|archive-date=29 June 2011 }} The Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh said that inclement weather had forced the helicopter off course.{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Politics/Nation/Bad-weather-forced-YSR-chopper-off-course/articleshow/4969820.cms|title=Bad weather forced YSR chopper off course|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=4 September 2009|access-date=23 May 2011}}{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/04/stories/2009090460961300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905062519/http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/04/stories/2009090460961300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 September 2009|title=Bell-430 deviated from flight path in bad weather|location=India|date=4 September 2009|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=23 May 2011}} Although the sparsely populated forest area is considered to be a stronghold of the outlawed Naxal insurgents, the National Security Advisor of India ruled out the possibility of the Naxals bringing down the helicopter.{{cite news|title=NSA rules out Naxal strike on YSR Reddy's chopper|url=http://www.ptinews.com/news/262051_NSA-rules-out-Naxal-strike-on-YSR-Reddy-s-chopper|date=2 September 2009|agency=Press Trust of India|access-date=10 September 2009}} On 3 September, the Prime Minister's Office confirmed the crash of the helicopter and the death of all aboard along with Reddy.{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/News/hyderabad/Andhra-Pradesh-plunges-into-gloom/Article1-449770.aspx|title=Andhra Pradesh plunges into gloom|date=3 September 2009|newspaper=Hindustan Times|location=India|access-date=3 September 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090906084640/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News/hyderabad/Andhra-Pradesh-plunges-into-gloom/Article1-449770.aspx|archive-date=6 September 2009}}{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Andhra-Pradesh-CM-YSR-Reddy-dead-in-chopper-crash/articleshow/4966888.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811072053/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-09-03/india/28065464_1_ysr-reddy-helicopter-crash-y-s-rajasekhara-reddy|url-status=live|archive-date=11 August 2011|title=PMO confirms death of Andhra CM|date=3 September 2009|newspaper=The Times of India|access-date=23 May 2011}} The director general of police said that the bodies were charred beyond recognition and had to be identified on the basis of clothing and the autopsy was carried out at Kurnool Medical College.{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/News/hyderabad/Charred-bodies-of-YSR-others-identified-by-clothes/Article1-449885.aspx|title=Charred bodies of YSR, others identified by clothes|newspaper=Hindustan Times|location=India|date=3 September 2009|access-date=23 May 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102191201/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News/hyderabad/Charred-bodies-of-YSR-others-identified-by-clothes/Article1-449885.aspx|archive-date=2 January 2011 }}{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Autopsy-conducted-on-YSR-in-Kurnool-/articleshow/4969979.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811072105/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-09-04/india/28100527_1_ysr-rudrakodur-m-malakondiah|url-status=live|archive-date=11 August 2011|title=Autopsy conducted on YSR in Kurnool|date=4 September 2009|work=The Times of India|access-date=23 May 2011}} An investigation eventually concluded that the factors that caused that crash was from mechanical issues and worse weather conditions.{{Cite report|url=http://www.aponline.gov.in/Apportal/Downloads/R.K.%20TYAGI%20REPORT.pdf|title=Report on Accident to Andhra Pradesh|website=Andhra Pradesh Online Portal|access-date=11 May 2016|archive-date=22 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422040357/http://www.aponline.gov.in/Apportal/Downloads/R.K.%20TYAGI%20REPORT.pdf|url-status=dead}}
Reddy's body was buried on 4 September at Idupulapai in Kadapa district with full state honors in accordance with Christian rites.{{cite news|last=Dharur|first=Suresh|title=Farewell, 'King of Kadapa'|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090905/main1.htm|date=4 September 2009|work=The Tribune|location=India|access-date=10 September 2009}}{{cite news|title=YSR buried with full state honours in native village|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ysr-buried-with-full-state-honours-in-native-village/511831/|date=3 September 2009|newspaper=The Indian Express|location=India|access-date=10 September 2009}} As per media reports, 122 people died of shock or committed suicide upon hearing the news of Reddy's death, many of whom were young supporters or those who benefited from his social welfare schemes.{{cite news|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/over-100-die-after-ysrs-death-son-appeals-for-calm/100684-3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090906224343/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/over-100-die-after-ysrs-death-son-appeals-for-calm/100684-3.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 September 2009|title=Over 100 die after YSR's death in Andhra|publisher=IBN|date=5 September 2009|access-date=15 June 2012}} Finance minister Konijeti Rosaiah was sworn in as Chief Minister following Reddy's death.{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/news/videos/video_player.php?id=1153685|title=Finance Minister K Rosiah is caretaker CM|date=3 September 2009|publisher=NDTV|access-date=3 September 2009}}
Criticism
Reddy was accused of amassing large amounts of money during his tenure as the Chief Minister.{{cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/ysr-reddys-sheer-size-of-corruption-shocked-us-diplomats-85356.html|title=YSR's 'sheer size' of corruption shocked US diplomats|date=16 September 2011|work=First Post|access-date=11 May 2014}} He is said to have used populist schemes like irrigation projects and housing schemes to his advantage and earned huge profits through them.{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/wikileaks-revelations/graft-during-ysr-rule-was-above-norm-in-india-wikileaks-133754|title=Graft during YSR rule was above norm in India: WikiLeaks|publisher=NDTV|access-date=11 May 2014}} In a leaked United States diplomatic cable, the American Consul General quotes that there was "widespread corruption that was beyond the pale even for India".{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ysr-reddy-government-was-engaged-in-corruption-wikileaks/1/151014.html|title=YSR Reddy's government was engaged in corruption: WikiLeaks|work=India Today|access-date=11 May 2014}} The surrender of more than {{convert|1600|acre|order=flip}} of personal land by Reddy to the government to be compliant with the law in December 2006 was criticised by opposition parties. The opposition parties demanded his resignation for owning the land in violation of the law.{{cite news|title=I've 1,000 acres more, says CM|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Ive-1000-acres-more-says-CM/articleshow/843875.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106104406/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-12-19/hyderabad/27785352_1_acres-temple-land-patta-land|url-status=live|archive-date=6 November 2012|newspaper=The Times of India|location=India|date=19 December 2006|access-date=26 May 2009}}
N. Chandrababu Naidu also called for Reddy's resignation after a 2007 Khammam police shooting resulted in eight deaths.{{cite news|title=Khammam police firing unfortunate, says Andhra CM|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/khammam-police-firing-unfortunate-says-andhra-cm/491832|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127045224/https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/khammam-police-firing-unfortunate-says-andhra-cm/491832|archive-date=27 November 2020|access-date=19 November 2020|work=Outlook}} A federal probe of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was also launched to investigate disproportionate assets acquired by his son, Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy, in return for favours his father made to the industrialists. In May 2012, the CBI arrested Mopidevi Venkataramana, the then Infrastructure Minister in Reddy's cabinet, who was responsible for unduly assigning the land to a private organization.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=smilDAEACAAJ|title=Raja of Corruption: Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh|date=2009|pages=56–92|language=en}}
In popular culture
On 8 July 2010, the Government of Andhra Pradesh renamed the Kadapa district as YSR district in honour of Reddy, who was a native of that district.{{cite news|title=Kadapa district to be named after YSR|url=http://newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/article439652.ece|newspaper=The New Indian Express|access-date=15 June 2012|date=18 June 2010|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304134802/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/article439652.ece|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Kadapa district to be named after YSR|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/04/stories/2009090458310100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905062329/http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/04/stories/2009090458310100.htm|url-status=dead |archive-date=5 September 2009|access-date=15 June 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|date=4 September 2009}} On 14 September 2009, the Andhra Cricket Association renamed ACA-VDCA cricket stadium at Visakhapatnam as Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium. Two sequential films were made about him, Yatra (2019) and Yatra 2 (2024). In 2020, the Andhra Pradesh Government declared YSR Jayanti to be celebrated as Farmer's Day on 8 July every year.
{{Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy family}}
Election Statistics
| class="wikitable" |
| ! Year
! Contested For ! colspan="2" | Party ! Constituency ! Opponent ! Votes ! Majority ! Result ! Reference |
|---|
| 1
| 1978 | rowspan="3" |MLA | {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress| rowspan=10}} | rowspan = 3 | Pulivendla | Devireddy Narayan Reddy (JP) | 47,874 – 27,378 | +20,496 | {{WON}} |
| 2
| 1983 | Yeddula Bali Reddy (IND) | 47,256 – 33,889 | +13,367 | {{WON}} |
| 3
| 1985 | Devi Reddy Sadasiva Reddy (TDP) | 61,048 – 30,206 | +30,842 | {{WON}} |
| 4
| 1989 | rowspan="4" |MP | rowspan = 4 | Kadapa | M. V. Ramana Reddy (TDP) | 4,80,524 – 3,13,772 | +1,66,752 | {{WON}} |
| 5
| 1991 | Chennamsetty Ramachandraiah (TDP) | 5,83,953 – 1,65,028 | +4,18,925 | {{WON}} |
| 6
| 1996 | Kandula Raja Mohan Reddy (TDP) | 3,68,611- 3,63,166 | +5,445 | {{WON}} |
| 7
| 1998 | Kandula Raja Mohan Reddy (TDP) | 3,74,762 – 3,20,881 | +53,881 | {{WON}} |
| 8
| 1999 | rowspan="3" |MLA | rowspan = 3 | Pulivendla | Singa Reddy Satish Kumar Reddy(TDP) | 62,019 – 32,010 | +30,009 | {{WON}} |
| 9
| 2004 | Singa Reddy Satish Kumar Reddy (TDP) | 74,432 – 33,655 | +40,777 | {{WON}} |
| 10
| 2009 | Singa Reddy Satish Kumar Reddy (TDP) | 1,03,556 – 34,875 | +68,681 | {{WON}} |
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
{{Commons category|Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy}}
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{{s-bef|before=N. Chandrababu Naidu}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh|years=2004–2009}}
{{s-aft|after=Konijeti Rosaiah}}
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{{Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reddy, Y.S. Rajasekhara}}
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