Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy

Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy was the 14th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. Rajashekar was elected to the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Lok Sabha from the Kadapa constituency for four terms and to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly for five terms from the Pulivendula constituency.

Rajasekhara Reddy was born on 8-July-1949 in Pulivendula. Being born into a Christian middle-class family, he is the eldest of five sons for Y. S. Raja Reddy. He completed his M.B.B.S in Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College, Gulbarga, Karnataka, and served as a Medical officer at Jammalamadugu Mission Hospital, Jammalamadugu, Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh after completing his studies. In 1973, He established a 70-bed Charitable hospital.

Rajasekhara Reddy started his Political journey in 1978 with Indian National Congress Party and won the post of MLA in Pulivendula constituency the same year and became Minister of State for Rural Development (1980-1982), and later shifted to Excise Minister in 1982 and Education Minister (1982-83). Indira Gandhi made the State president of the party. He even continued the winning streak for the Kadapa constituency for four terms in 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Lok Sabha.

He served as Leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh State Assembly (1999-2004). In 2003, He undertook a three-month-long Padayatra, or walking tour of 1475 km during the very hot summer months, across several districts in Andhra Pradesh as a part of his election campaign. In 2004, He was elected as M.L.A of Pulivendula Constituency.

On the first day of his tenure in 2004, he provided free electricity for farmers, a campaign project. A health insurance program for rural people living below the poverty line (white card holders), known as Rajiv Arogya Shree, was instituted to pay the entire cost of any necessary surgery up to a maximum of ₹2 lakh. A rice scheme provided a kilogram of rice for two rupees to reduce hunger. The minimum support price for rice was also raised.

He Became as 14th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh by winning the 2004 Assembly Elections. He also won the 2009 Elections and continued as 15th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, but it is abrupted by his Death on 2nd September 2009.

Rajashekara Reddy’s Bell 430 helicopter went missing on Wednesday, 2 September 2009 at 9:35 am. 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. The Indian Prime Minister’s Office confirmed the Helicopter’s Crash on the morning of 3rd September and the death of all aboard, namely Y.S.R, his special secretary P. Subrahmanyam, chief security officer A. S. C. Wesley, Group Captain S. K. Bhatia, and Captain M. S. Reddy. His body was buried on 4th September at Idupulapai in Kadapa district with full state honors in accordance with Christian rites.