New Delhi: Describing Y S Rajasekhara Reddy
as a "dynamic" chief minister and human being, Congress on Thursday
said his demise was a "tremendous loss" to the party which
will take very long to come to terms with it.
Reacting to his tragic death in a chopper crash, the
Congress said Reddy was "utterly" devoted to the party, to the
state of Andhra Pradesh and to the country and his loss will
be felt "very deeply".
"He was such a dynamic CM, dynamic human being and a man
of the people, something that will take us very long to come
to terms with," party spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan said.
She said it was tragic that he died while actually
engaged in the active implementation of his "important
schemes".
Reddy had recently led the Congress to a historic
victory in the Parliamentary elections in Andhra Pradesh.
"He had tremendous political instincts and he was a
Congressman to the last drop of his blood... It`s a tremendous
loss to the political firmament and to find either his pulse
on the feeling of the masses and some of his courage and
dynamism is very very difficult," Natarajan said.
She said Reddy was absolutely determined that the
implementation of his schemes should not fail and he should
deliver the promises he made to the people of Andhra Pradesh.
Condoling Reddy`s death, Left parties described him
the "popular" Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
"It is most tragic and unfortunate. The victory he had
achieved in the recent elections had established his
popularity in Andhra Pradesh," CPI-M Politburo member Sitaram
Yechury said here.
Conveying his "deepest" condolence to the late CM`s
wife and family members, Yechury said: "At a time when he
could influence the national politics, he unfortunately passed
away".
Expressing shock, the CPI said Reddy was "the popular"
Chief Minister who was known for several welfare measures in
the state.
"His demise is a big loss not only to Andhra but to
the entire country," the party said in a statement.
Terming Reddy as the son of the soil, BJP president
Rajnath Singh said his demise has left a big void in the
country.
"Reddy was the son of the soil and had special concern
for the welfare of poor and other weaker sections of the
society. He was a leader who believed in serving the people
through development and good governance," Singh told reporters
here.
He said as a mark of respect for the late leader,
BJP`s flag would fly at half mast at the party headquarters.
Party leaders said this is perhaps for the first time
that party`s flag will fly at half mast following the demise
of a leader of the opposition party.
Singh said, "The Andhra Chief Minister`s demise has
left a big void in the country and it is an irreparable loss
especially for the people of Andhra Pradesh.
Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu said, "The state
and the people have lost a promising dynamic leader with the
death of Rajasekhar Reddy".
"We have been hoping that Reddy will come back safely.
But it was a big shock and God has been unkind," Naidu said.
Bureau Report
