Himanshu Kapoor
After severing links with the Congress and resigning from the post of chief minister protesting against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to create a separate state of Telangana, Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy floated a political outfit - Jai Samaikya Andhra Party – to “safeguard the pride of Telugu people, and to reflect their sentiments”.
Now with Andhra divided and the prevailing conditions in the state, Reddy – like many other politicians - would be going on poll agenda that he tried his best for a united state but couldn`t succeed. Reddy, who can be seen as the third front in Andhra, will be determined to stop the Jaganmohan Reddy juggernaut and the Chandrababu Naidu bicycle in their tracks.
He stepped down as Andhra CM after the Lok Sabha passed the Telangana Bill with little fuss. And then split with the Congress in no different understated manner. When Reddy finally announced his party (JSP), there were no frills, no slogans in Kiran’s name. Some might call the JSP a party in denial but Reddy firmly believe they will be the “surprise package” of the 2014 general elections.
Born in Hyderabad to Sarojamma and N Amarnath Reddy, a former Congress party member and a minister in PV Narasimha Rao cabinet, Kiran Reddy was the 16th chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. His family hails from Nagaripalle, near Kalikiri, Chittoor district.
The four-time Member of Legislative Assembly, who has had no allegations of impropriety against him, was elected to Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1989 after his father’s death. He served as member of the Public Undertakings Committee and Assurance Committee. He was elected to the state assembly from native Vayalpadu (Valmikipuram) in 1989, 1999 and 2004.
He won from Pileru in 2009 after Valmikipuram got merged into Pileru constituency under delimitation. Reddy, a known YSR loyalist, was the Congress government chief whip for five years from 2004, before he was made the Speaker.
After being unanimously elected as Speaker of the 13th Andhra Pradesh Assembly in June 2009, his name for the speaker’s post was proposed by erstwhile chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Praja Rajyam Party chief Chiranjeevi, AIMIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, Agriculture minister N Raghuveera Reddy and two other independents. Reddy was chosen to be the new Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh after incumbent K Rosaiah resigned citing personal reasons, by the Congress Legislature Party and authorised party 2010.
Prior to joining politics, Reddy was a promising cricketer during his student days and represented the State and South Zone teams in Ranji. Compared to other politicians in Andhra namely Jaganmohan Reddy, Kiran Reddy is seen as a man with more experience of serving the state and an able administrator for a state already hurt by the division.
