
Economic & Political Weekly, October 24, 2009 vol xliv no 43
Commentary
YSR ‘Shock Deaths’ in Andhra
C Ramachandraiah
Over 450 people were reported to have died of “shock” following the death of Andhra Pradesh chief minister, Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. While the high-pitched media coverage may have contributed to some of these deaths, it also appears likely that eager Congress workers gave money to poor people asking them to claim that the natural deaths of members of their respective families were due to “shock” at the death of YSR. This was a cynical move to pressurise the Congress leadership to make his son, Jaganmohan Reddy, the chief minister.
Over 450 people are reported to have died of shock in the days following the tragic death of the former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh (AP), Y S Rajasekhara Reddy (popularly known as YSR) in the helicopter crash on 2 September 2009. Though the helicopter carrying YSR and four others is now known to have crashed around 9.30 am on 2 September, the news of their death was telecast only on the morning of 3 September, i e, after a full 24 hours of suspense about the fate of the chief minister. That the helicopter was missing was itself confirmed only late in the afternoon of 2 September by the then finance minister (present chief minister) K Rosaiah.
YSR had emerged a mass political leader in AP after his padayatra during April-June 2003. Aided by a booming economy, a slew of welfare/populist measures and distribution of patronage through public work contracts and other means, he became a popular chief minister. His personal traits of helping those who approach him and taking care of the needs of his followers earned him supporters across the state.