Remembering Bhuma Nagi Reddy, who dies of stroke
Hyderabad, March.12: A senior politician from the faction-ridden Rayalaseema region, Bhuma Nagi Reddy, the sitting MLA from Nandyal Assembly constituency in Kurnool district, died suddenly after a massive heart attack on Sunday morning.
The 53-year-old politician is survived by his daughter, Akhila Priya, also an MLA elected from her late mother Shobha Nagi Reddy's constituency Allagadda. Both Bhuma Nagi Reddy and daughter Akhila Pria switched their loyalty from YSRCP to Telugu Desam in February last year.
Nagi Reddy suffered a massive heart attack this morning and was rushed to the hospital. The doctors tried their level best to revive his condition even as he was being shifted from an ambulance to the hospital. However, they could not succeed and was declared dead. On hearing the tragic news, his supporters and well-wishers of the family rushed to the hospital and bemoaned the loss of their leader.
The last rites of Nagi Reddy will take place in Allagadda on Monday. Doctors and the family confirmed the death of Bhuma Nagi Reddy at noon. The funeral will be performed in Allagadda on Monday, said Bhuma's brother-in-law SV Mohan Reddy. He is survived by two daughters and a son.
Born on January 8, 1964, Bhuma Nagi Reddy was for the first time elected to the then undivided Andhra Pradesh Assembly in a bye-election in 1992 following the sudden death of his brother Bhuma Sekhar Reddy, a sitting MLA from Allagadda constituency. He came into limelight in 1996 when he was chosen as TDP nominee to contest against then Prime Minister P V. Narasimha Rao from Nandayal Lok Sabha constituency. Though he lost the election by a narrow margin, he got elected again from the same constituency with a thumping majority after PV resigned to retain his Berhampur seat. Thus, Bhuma Nagi Reddy entered the 11th Lok Sabha and served his term consecutively for two more terms in the 12th and 13th Lok Sabha.
Nagi Reddy tasted a set-back when he was defeated as TDP candidate from Allagadda Assembly constituency by the Congress nominee Gangula Pratap Reddy in 2004 elections. Both Nagi Reddy and his wife Shobha quit Telugu Desam and joined film actor Chiranjeevi's newly floated political outfit Praja Rajyam in 2008. However, when Chiranjeevi decided to merge Praja Rajyam with the Congress, the Bhuma couple strongly opposed the same and joined hands with Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who floated YSRCP.
Shobha Nagi Reddy died just before the 2014 elections in a tragic road accident. Nagi Reddy got elected on the YSRCP ticket from Nandyal, while his daughter got elected from her late mother's seat Allagadda. However, with the bifurcation of the United AP and amidst the change of political scenario, both switched their loyalty to TDP in February last year. In fact, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu seemed to have offered Bhuma Nagi Reddy a cabinet post if he defected from YSRCP and his induction in the Naidu cabinet was expected anytime shortly. However, tragedy struck, and he passed away unexpectedly. Political circles are wondering whether Akhila Priya would be inducted into the cabinet.
On hearing the news, Chandrababu Naidu expressed his profound shock and said the TPD had lost a very eminent and powerful leader from Rayalaseema. He said he would do all his best to take care of the interests of Bhuma's family.
It is pertinent to note here that Deputy Chief Minister K.E. Krishnamurthy, who belongs to Kurnool district, had opposed the entry of Bhuma Nagi Reddy into the TDP since both are known for their bitter rivalry in Rayalaseema politics. His wife's untimely death and stagnation in his political career, Bhuma was reportedly in a depression. He participated in a meeting with the party chief Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday in connection with the introduction of the budget in the Assembly.