As electioneering intensifies, residents of Kurnool parliamentary constituency vividly recall the efficient governance of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, the two-time former Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, who tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash in September 2009, merely 74 km from here.
Rajasekhara Reddy, fondly known as YSR, had carved a niche in state politics by working for the upliftment of the downtrodden and neglected segments of the society. YSR emerged victorious in every election he contested during his 25-year-long political career.
Elections to 25 Lok Sabha seats and 175 Assembly segments in the state will be held simultaneously on May 13.
As incumbent Chief Minister of bifurcated Andhra Pradesh, Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy seeks a second term, admirers of YSR in Kurnool say, after observing the former's first tenure, "Jagan is not like his father." "In the 2019 elections, we voted for Jagan in the name of Rajasekhara Reddy. But he has disappointed us. This time, we will have to reconsider," said Rafid, a fruit seller.
