A notable example of statesmanship with missionary zeal was Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, the late Chief Minister of the erstwhile (undivided) Andhra Pradesh
A notable example of statesmanship with missionary zeal was Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, the late Chief Minister of the erstwhile (undivided) Andhra Pradesh. Fondly called as YS, he was the one who redefined what could be a true allegiance of a regional satrap to the central command of a national political party. He ruled the state without compromising on definitive traits of leadership. He knew his strengths, weaknesses, and how to stand on his own and make decisions that both the party and people accept and up hold without any sign of disapproval.
Though he preferred to restrict his role to a limited domain of Andhra politics, his influence was felt far beyond the frontiers of the Telugu heartland. What made him the most revered leader of the land is his commitment to address the needs of the poor with a ‘never-say-no’ approach, which in fact was deeply ingrained in his political vision. His moves reflected a genuine urge to reach out to the needy. Even after one and a half decade of his tragic death in a chopper crash in Nallamala forests, leaving the people of the state in a feeling of being orphaned, he is still intact in the hearts of millions.
There are too many claimants to be true political successors of Y S Rajasekhar Reddy for owning up his legacy. Indeed, the survival of the Congress party in both the Telugu State’s owed to a fresh crop of young leadership mentored by Y S Rajasekhar Reddy. Those promoted by him include Telangana Deputy Chief Minister, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka. Many of Batti’s colleagues who owed their political journey to their upbringing and refinement in YSR School of thought, got strayed and landed in wrong destinations. Many others continued in the party, but they lost their focus on grassroot politics.
But Bhatti stood his ground and emerged as the sole successor of Y S Rajasekhar Reddy. He fought against all odds, at a time when the entire Telangana state unit was found faltering with many of the Congress MLAs falling to the lures held out by the ruling BRS from 2018 to 2023. Bhatti steered the party to the safe shores, surviving a split in the Congress Legislature party (CLP) of which he happened to be the leader. Besides establishing himself as the true successor of the YSR, he could carry forward the special aura of a grand era. YSR portrait finds a place in his Pooja hall. He shouldered the task of carrying forward the mission of YSR.
He even embraced the distinctive dressing style of YSR, often referred to as “Pancha Kattu,” that reflected Telugu culture. He sought to tread the line of YSR who was known for his love for agriculture, care for villages and the poor besides his commitment to provide better opportunities for the downtrodden. YSR is remembered today for his people-centric initiatives, especially in areas like education, healthcare, and welfare for farmers. His popularity stemmed from welfare schemes and development programmes.
Vying with Bhatti for the great legacy of YSR Telangana is A Revanth Reddy, who could make it to the top in the party with his swift political moves outwitting the challenges that he had faced within the party and outside. The 75th birth anniversary was observed in both Telugu States in a big way. It proved to be a befitting occasion for political leaders and parties to prove their proximity to Rajasekhar Reddy. Both Bhatti and Revanth took part in the birth anniversary celebrations organised by the AP unit of the Congress Party at Mangalagiri in Andhra Pradesh. The legacy of YSR remained very much relevant in AP politics today. The political battle between the former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and his sister, Y S Sharmila, President of the AP unit of the Congress Party over their late father’s legacy has been intensified. YS Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR), served as the Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh from 2004 to 20091. His charismatic leadership could bring the Congress party to power in AP in 2004 and 2009. Infact AP Chief Minister, N Chandrababu Naidu and Rajasekhar Reddy owed their humble beginning to the Congress party. The two popular politicians were good friends before turning sparring rivals. Rajasekhar Reddy’s success as the man of the masses gained him a place of his own in the hearts of people making him one of the two popular Chief Ministers, the other one being N T Rama Rao.
Chandrababu Naidu too of late has been sounding to have realised that making of popular rule needs a unique political vision that has due focus on his priorities including the technology-driven development and YSR’s commitment to welfare.
Paying humble tributes to Y S Rajasekhar Reddy on the occasion, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi said that his Bharat Jodo Yatra owed a great deal to the inspiration drawn from Y S Rajasekhar Reddy’s 66-day Padayatra before the AP Assembly elections in 2004. AP would have been different today, had he been alive. He shall always remain an example of excellence in public life, he said.
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