Rosaiah, ex-CM & a man for all seasons, passes away at 88

Rosaiah, ex-CM & a man for all seasons, passes away at 88

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad/Amaravati:  05.12.2021

Former chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh and veteran Congress leader Konijeti Rosaiah passed away in Hyderabad on Saturday after a brief illness. He was 88.

He died while being taken to a private hospital after he fell ill on Saturday morning.

Rosaiah was born on July 4, 1933 in Vemuru village of Guntur district. He is survived by wife Sivalakshmi, sons KSN Murthy, Subba Rao and daughter Ramadevi.

Rosaiah's political journey began in 1968 as an MLC. In his five-decade long public life, he was a minister in the cabinets of T Anjaiah, Marri Chenna Reddy, Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy and YS Rajasekhara Reddy.

He also represented Chirala in assembly and was elected to the Lok Sabha from Narasaraopet in Andhra Pradesh in 1999.

He was sworn in as chief minister on September 3, 2009 following the death of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash. Rosaiah continued in the post till November 24, 2010.

The former CM also had the unique distinction of presenting the state budget for a record 16 times under various chief ministers.

K Rosaiah

CM KCR consoles Rosaiah’s wife Sivalakshmi at their residence

T, AP govt declare 3 days state mourning

It was during his tenure as CM in 2009, then UPA government, announced on December 9 that it would start the process of forming a separate Telangana, but rolled back its decision on December 23 following protests by AP leaders and later constituted Sri Krishna Committee. TRS senior leaders recalled that the December 9 announcement was made after Rosaiah held a meeting with opposition parties and said then UPA government took the decision based on the views expressed by the leaders on granting separate statehood for Telangana.

PM Narendra Modi, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, Telangana and AP CMs K Chandrasekhar Rao and YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Union minister G Kishan Reddy, former governor ESL Narasimhan, TPCC president A Revanth Reddy, ministers KT Rama Rao and T Harish Rao and several leaders condoled the death of the veteran leader. KCR, who visited Rosaiah's house and paid his tributes, recalled that Rosaiah brought laurels to each and every post he held. Telangana and AP governments declared three days of mourning. Senior Congress leader KVP Ramachandra Rao said the body of the veteran leader would be kept at Gandhi Bhavan.Final rites will be held at agriculture fields owned by family at Kompally on Sunday afternoon.

CM KCR paying tributes to former CM of united Andhra Pradesh and veteran Konijeti Rosaiah

An orator & a number cruncher

A master of mesmerising speeches, Konijeti Rosaiah was not only an authority on state finances but was also as a ‘walking encyclopedia’ of legislative affairs. It was literally difficult for the rivals to pin him down.

TDP founder-president and then CM NT Rama Rao is believed to have decided to abolish the legislative council as he was always at the receiving end of Rosaiah’s fiery speeches in the upper house. Rosaiah was also known for not encouraging his kin into politics. In his 50 years of political career, he never faced any allegations of corruption or nepotism. A true follower of Gandhian principles, Rosaiah rose to the top as a staunch follower of Acharya N G Ranga. Always clad in neatly ironed white khadi shirt and dhoti, Rosaiah lived a spotless life throughout.