TRIBUTE

Vijayabhaskara Reddy Passes Away

HYDERABAD : The Congress stalwart and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. Kotla Vijayabhaskara Reddy, who influenced the course of State politics for over five decades, died here on 27 September after prolonged illness.

A member of the Congress central election authority, Mr. Reddy was a towering personality in the State having served as Chief Minister for two terms in the past and had also played a key role in national politics.

Mr. Vijayabhaskar Reddy was 82 and is survived by wife, Syamala Devi, sons - Mr. K.J. Suryaprakash Reddy, who is the Kurnool District Congress President, and Mr. Ramesh Reddy - and three daughters - Vasanthi, Indumathi and Varalaxmi. He celebrated his 82nd birthday on August 16 and was admitted to the hospital the next day.

A Pillar of Strength: Sonia Gandhi The Congress president, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, condoled the sad demise of veteran Congress leader, Mr. K. Vijayabhaskar Reddy and issued the following message on 27 September, 2001: In the sad demise of Mr. K. Vijayabhaskar Reddy the nation has lost one of its senior most and distinguished political leaders. The Congress has lost one of its pillars of strength. He was a dedicated politician, distinguished administrator and a committed Congressman. The void caused by his death is hard to fill. Congressmen should derive inspiration from his steadfast commitment to the ideals of the Congress party and rededicate themselves to the work he was doing in his lifetime. My family and I have lost a friend and a genuine well-wisher. In this hour of loss, my heart and thoughts go out in sympathy to all members of the bereaved family.

Mr. Reddy battled for life for 41 days at Apollo Hospitals as he was kept on mechanical ventilator. His condition deteriorated over the last two days as he developted multiple organ dysfunction.

Efforts of the doctors to resuscitate him proved futile and he breathed last at 11.50 a.m. with family members and close followers around. He was admitted to the hospital on August 17 for evaluation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and later developed other complications. A week before, he was shifted from Presidential suite to the Intensive Care Unit in the corporate hospital.

Besides family members, a large number of Congress leaders were around when the end came. The APCC president, Mr. M. Satyanarayana Rao, the CLP leader, Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, former Chief Ministers - Mr. J. Janardhan Reddy and Mr. N. Bhaskara Rao - were among the mourners who reported at the hospital on coming to know of his demise.

His body was embalmed and shifted to his residence at the Banjara Hills. The Governor, Dr. C. Rangarajan, visited the house and placed a wreath on the body draped in the tricolour.

The Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr. G.M.C. Balayogi, and the Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, were the other dignitaries to reach his residence and pay homage.

The body was kept at Gandhi Bhawan, the Congress headquarters and later moved to Kurnool and kept at the District Congress Committee office building till the funeral the next day to enable people of his native district to pay respect to their leader.

Funeral with state honours took place on the banks of the Handi river in Kurnool town on September 29. The State observed a three-day mourning.

Three senior leaders - Mr. N.D. Tiwari, Mr. Motilal Vora and Mr. R.K. Dhawan - have been deputed by the Congress president, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, to attend the funeral. Meanwhile in condolence message, the Governor, Dr. C. Rangarajan, described Mr. Reddy as a highly public spirited politician. ‘In his death, the country has lost a political leader of long experience, wisdom and maturity.’

The Chief Minister, Mr. Naidu, recalled Mr. Reddy’s services as ‘an able administrator and senior politician.’ As the Chief Minister for two times, and as a senior Union Cabinet Minister handling different portfolios, he rendered services for the welfare of the people.

A Stalwart : CWC The Congress Working Committee places on record its sorrow at the passing away of Mr. K. Vijayabhaskar Reddy after a brief illness: He served the Congress party as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Union Cabinet Minister, Member of Congress Working Committee and member of CEC for over a half a century. He was a towering leader of Andhra Pradesh, who made his presence felt at the national level. In his death, we have lost a stalwart, whose wise councel will be sorely missed. The Congress Working Committee sends its sincere condolences to Mrs. Shyamala Devi Reddy and the members of his family. Their grief is widely shared.