Home News Former CM Kiran Kumar Reddy Joined BJP

Former CM Kiran Kumar Reddy Joined BJP

560
0

On Friday morning in New Delhi, N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, the last Chief Minister of unified Andhra Pradesh (AP), joined the Bharatiya Janata Party alongside Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and party national general secretaries Arun Singh and K Laxman from OBC Morcha and Andhra Pradesh BJP general secretary S Vishnuvardhan Reddy.

kiran kumar reddy joined bjp

Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy was a vocal opponent of bifurcation in Andhra Pradesh, but his views were apparently ignored by the Congress high command.

Noting that “no match is over until the last ball is bowled”, Mr. Reddy, an accomplished batsman who played first class cricket matches before entering politics, pledged his efforts to keep the State united.

Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy joined the BJP after seven decades in the Congress party, but felt no obligation to continue that legacy any longer, having seen how ineptly that party had performed despite losing power in several States while BJP rose to prominence under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J.P. Nadda’s leadership.

He noted the Congress’ unwillingness to consult its constituents and take unilateral decisions as the cause of its downfall from grace.

He lamented the hasty way the Congress divided unified Andhra Pradesh, noting its destruction for the State and lamenting that he and other senior Congress leaders were kept in the dark about it (bifurcation).

Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy expressed his admiration for the way in which the BJP has achieved such dominance and declared his willingness to fulfill any responsibility assigned to him.

Mr. Joshi noted that Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy had begun a new era for the BJP in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, noting it as an opportunity to “build on its successes”.

Kiran Kumar Reddy had left the Congress prior to bifurcation in June 2014 and formed his own Jai Samaikyandhra Party (JSP).

Unfortunately, this party did not do well in 2014 elections and had to be disbanded. He returned to Congress in 2018 before finally saying his goodbyes a few days ago.

Before being appointed Chief Minister in late 2010, Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy served as government chief whip and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, setting him apart from his younger brother N. Kishore Kumar Reddy who is actively engaged with his hometown TDP in Chittoor.