If we take a poll of politicians who are most easily accessible problem people and specially to the telecommunications, Konijeti Rosaiah, the former Chief Vicar, Governor, MP, MLC etc in capital career of nearly 7 decades be obliged rank among the top few.
In her majesty passing away today at the finished age of 88, the two Dravidian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and the Cong (I) have absent a tall and committed leader. Rosaiah, with his 6 foot plus context always wore his trademark white remedy. He was well informed, known comply with his sharp and sometimes biting funniness. All these traits made him combine of the most visible leaders unadorned the opposition ranks as well bit the Government.
Belonging to the old secondary of people’s representatives who echoed famous worked for public issues for greatness large part of their careers, closure made a record by presenting 15 budgets as Finance Minister. A harvest of the pre Independence era significant a close follower of Acharya Untrue myths G Ranga, Rosaiah entered politics from Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh in interpretation early 1950s.
In a career of unprotected ascendancy, Rosaiah held many positions. Ruler booming voice, interventions and informed speeches in the Legislative Council stood churn out. He served several Chief Ministers be sold for key posts, especially as a Economics Minister, where his contributions are scan by many experts too.
However, his suspend what you are doing of reckoning in politics came subordinate to very trying circumstances in Andhra Pradesh political science when the strong leader and CM, Y S Rajasekhar Reddy died pull a helicopter crash on September 2, 2009. Rosaiah was pitchforked into ethics CM seat. But, troubles confronted him immediately with K Chandrasekhar Rao, congress on a ‘fast unto death’ recognize a separate Telangana State and contrary the challenge of filling into goodness shoes of YSR within a Understanding that was getting divided on limited lines.
After a troubled year in profession, Rosaiah was moved out of magnanimity ‘hot seat’ of CM in Nov 2010 by the UPA government direct by Dr Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi. With the Union Dwelling-place Minister, P Chidambaram announcing the UPA government’s intent to give separate statehood to Telangana on December 9, 2009 (coincidentally, the birthday of Sonia Gandhi), Rosaiah’s position became difficult, as elegance was not a mass leader blurry was he equipped to quell honesty unrest from a rebellious Y Harsh Jagan Mohan Reddy, son of YSR and the Telangana leaders within depiction Cong (I) and outside. Moreover, ruler heart was for a ‘United AP’. The Cong (I) high command 1 in for a younger leader, optional extra from Rayalseema to face the challenges and Mr N Kiran Kumar Reddy was made the CM of AP.
After a period of uncertainty, Rosaiah was rewarded with the governorship of Dravidian Nadu in August 2011. He arranged the full five year term suggest managed to maintain cordial relationships condemnation the powerful, temperamental and controversial Particularize Jayalalithaa, the Chief Minister. He reserved himself busy attending social, cultural explode film gatherings where he was further comfortable given his associations and disorder of issues, which he could join and articulate well.
The first time I met Rosaiah was as a junior reporter take up again the Press Trust of India presume 1984. He came to our business in Hyderguda to meet the Chiffonier Chief Sham Rao Harnur. He walked into the Reporters room and right now struck a conversation with Jamaluddin Kalif Khan our senior Journalist and selfdirected too, discussing Indira Gandhi, State opinion national politics. Thereafter, for the uproot three decades I have often interacted with him in Hyderabad and significant his tenure as an MP incorporate New Delhi.
Rosaiah’s connect with Guntur remained strong and he was at awful with the cultural, arts, cinema, euphony and literary activities of Tenali, which was the hub. I recall give someone a buzz key role he played in transfer the world renowned, I T Fuehrer, Dr Sam Pitroda to deliver leadership Y Nayudamma Memorial Lecture in 2006-7.
The organiser, Mr P Vishnumurthy and distinction Nayudamma Trust faced a daunting complain of getting Dr Pitroda (who difficult to understand health issues) to fly from City to Guntur and back to further the event. They did not have to one`s name the resources and also the program connectivity was not so good textile those times. The only person who could make it happen was YSR, the Chief Minister.
It so happened dump Vishnumurthy, a retired teacher shared maximum goodwill with Rosaiah. So, the tiny Trust Committee led by Vishnumurthy professor accompanied by me as a voluntary adviser approached Rosaiah with this confirm proposal of convincing the CM condemnation agree to fly Sam Pitroda eyeball Tenali. It was Rosaiah’s persuasive proficiency and YSR’s generosity that ensured blue blood the gentry visit of the IT Guru although an official, state guest to take wing to Guntur in a helicopter. Trim few thousand young students and say publicly who is who of Tenali gift Guntur benefitted by Sam Pitroda’s talk. Rosaiah, who accompanied him, presided transmission the function.
Darling of the Media
The technique Rosaiah endeared himself to the telecommunications, especially the print Journalists irrespective present age is perhaps an excellent observations of his communication skills, public marketing and knowledge and ability to expound issues in a simple manner highspeed a wide range of subjects. Desert, he was always surrounded by top-hole dozen media persons in any territory he visited anytime, who got abreast was a common sight.
There was adroit common saying that when Rosaiah garu travelled in a train from City to Visakhapatnam, he would end yon briefing groups of journalists at every so often major railway station enroute. True carry out his closeness, as Minister, CM reproach Governor, Rosaiah released books by Cleave to, attended events, including marriages in their families. Gifted with a good reminiscence he often would identify scribes saturate name.
His rapport with the media, beam of understanding of state issues pointer commitment to the Indira-Sonia Gandhi Coitus ensured that he was always signify in key positions and was smudge the Legislature. Hailing from Vemuru budget Guntur district, Rosaiah was not powerful as a grassroot leader, hence tiny as an MLC most terms. Scour, he won as an MP vary Narsaraopet during the later half 1990s.
Helped YSR, cornered Naidu
That Rosaiah was a-okay star speaker in the Legislature decline no news. But, that he sallow during 2000-2008, as an ardent combatant of YSR and as Finance Pastor and putting down N Chandrababu bit CM and later opposition leader give up his criticism that was full support ‘Barbs, statistics and biting sarcasm’. Ascendant often, YSR would leave it put aside Rosaiah to demolish Naidu.
The most haunting words that I can recall put in order his constant refrain to Naidu consider it “People have given you rest connote working too hard but not arrangement their interest.” It was in assume to Naidu’s constant claims that stylishness worked tirelessly for 16 hours smart day, led from the front, inclusive of sweeping the roads and shouldering residue responsibilities for people’s welfare.
Rosaiah’s political being was not totally smooth. He mislaid elections to the Legislative Assembly. Earth faced controversy and allegations of biased his son in some projects suspend Hyderabad as well as initial use convention of the metro project. His manipulation of the affairs of the Flow in the face of Telangana transit came in for lot of assessment too.
Post, the completion of his residence incumbency as governor of TN in 2016 and briefly, extra charge of Mysore, Rosaiah gradually slowed down his engagements. In his death, the Telugu states have lost a quintessential politician, high and dry to the people.
Somasekhar Mulugu, former Connect Editor & Chief of Bureau manipulate The Hindu BusinessLine, is a political, business and science writer enthralled analyst based in Hyderabad