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In a long statement posted on X, the chartered accountant who turned into an important figure in AP politics in the last decade declared that he would not join any political party after this
Vijayasai Reddy (L) was the Delhi pointsman for YSRCP chief and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy. File pic/X
V Vijayasai Reddy is an accidental politician. The circumstances forced him to become a politician almost 15 years ago. The same circumstances seem to have forced him to quit politics altogether.
In a surprise move, Reddy, the Delhi pointsman for YSRCP chief and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy, announced that he is resigning from the Parliament and saying goodbye to politics to return to agriculture.
In a long statement posted on X, the chartered accountant who turned into an important figure in AP politics in the last decade declared that he would not join any political party after this.
The 67-year-old Reddy has been a constant companion of the YSR family spanning four decades, serving three Reddys. His sudden decision to quit politics has shocked the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party, which is struggling to stay relevant after the near collapse of the party in the 2024 general elections.
Vijayasai Reddy, a native of Nellore district in AP, came into contact with the YSR family after his marriage with the daughter of a Congress MLA from Rayalaseema in the 1980s. A well-known CA, Reddy has been a family auditor for over 40 years.
He first served the late Raja Reddy, father of former Andhra Pradesh CM the late Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy. Later, he became a close confidante of Dr YSR and was an influential figure during his chief ministership. He had completely shunned publicity and politics during those days claiming he had no interest in them. He was a powerful backroom guy who could get things done quietly.
He was instrumental in Jagan’s foray into the media business in 2007-08.
After the sudden death of Dr YSR in a helicopter crash in 2009, Vijayasai Reddy became collateral damage in politically motivated cases against YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. He was jailed along with Jagan for over a year.
After coming out of jail, he decided to join politics and became general secretary of YSRCP. He was a key adviser to Jagan on all issues. Though YSRCP could not make it to power in 2014, Reddy managed to enter the Rajya Sabha as its first member in the upper house of the parliament in 2016. He was made leader of the Parliamentary Party of YSRCP, the post he still holds.
In 2019, Jagan rode to power in a stunning victory against TDP’s Nara Chandrababu Naidu. After that, his stocks rose, and Reddy was tasked with keeping good relations with the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre.
He was either heading or was a member of many key parliamentary standing committees.
Reddy, an educated, soft-spoken, and intelligent man, handled that job perfectly well, earning many influential friends across the political spectrum.
The defeat of the party in the last general elections shocked him, and he was visibly upset.
His resignation and announcement of retirement from politics have left many people wondering whether he is still in the running or has played his last part in the game of politics.
One has to wait and see how Jagan will handle the party in his absence.
