Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy

Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy
9th Chief Minister of United Andhra Pradesh
In office 20 September 1982 – 9 January 1983
Governor	K. C. Abraham
Preceded by	Bhavanam Venkatarami Reddy
Succeeded by	Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao
In office 9 October 1992 – 12 December 1994
Governor	Krishan Kant
Preceded by	Nedurumalli Janardhana Reddy
Succeeded by	Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao
Union Minister of Industry
In office 7 September 1984 – 31 December1984
Prime Minister	Indira Gandhi
Preceded by	V. P. Singh
Succeeded by	Rajiv Gandhi
Union Minister of Shipping and Transport
In office 2 February 1983 – 7 September 1984
Prime Minister	Indira Gandhi
Preceded by	C. M. Stephen
Succeeded by	Veerendra Patil
Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs
In office 21 June 1991 – 9 October 1992
Prime Minister	P. V. Narasimha Rao
Preceded by	Subramanian Swamy
Succeeded by	P. V. Narasimha Rao
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office 1977–1984
Preceded by	K. Kodanda Rami Reddy
Succeeded by	E. Ayyapu Reddy
Constituency	Kurnool
In office 1989–1999
Preceded by	E. Ayyapu Reddy
Succeeded by	K. E. Krishnamurthy
Constituency	Kurnool
Member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly
In office 1983–1985
Preceded by	Hanumantha Reddy
Succeeded by	B. V. Mohan Reddy
Constituency	Yemmiganur
In office 1994–1994
Preceded by	K. E. Prabhakar
Succeeded by	K. E. Krishnamurthy
Constituency	Dhone
Minister of Cooperation, Major Irrigation and Finance
In office 1967–1971
Member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council
In office 1967–1972
Constituency	Andhra Pradesh
9th President of Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee
In office 1980–1981
Preceded by	Kona Prabhakara Rao
Succeeded by	Kona Prabhakara Rao
Personal details
Born	16 August 1920 Amakathadu, Laddagiri Village, Kurnool District, Madras Presidency, British India
Died	27 September 2001 (aged 81)
Political party	Indian National Congress
Spouse	K. Shyamla Reddy
Children	Two sons and three daughters
Alma mater	Besant Theosophical College, Madanapalle and Madras Law College, Madras (Tamil Nadu)
Profession	Agriculturist, Lawyer, Sportsman, Political and Social worker

Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy (16 August 1920 – 27 September 2001) served as the chief minister of the Indian state of United Andhra Pradesh in 1983 and then from 1992 to 1994. Reddy was a member of the Indian National Congress and was elected to the Lok Sabha six times. Reddy also served as a Union cabinet Minister, along with serving on several parliamentary committees. He lost the 1999 elections and subsequently retired from active politics. Botanical Garden in Hyderabad is named after him.

Early life

Reddy was born in the remote village of Laddagiri in the Kurnool district to the family of a landlord. He began his involvement in politics at Nandyal gram panchayat and eventually became involved in the national level. He studied for his B.A., at Besant Theosophical College, Madanapalle and his LL.B. at Madras Law College, in Madras, (Tamil Nadu) in 1947. While Reddy graduated law school, he rarely practiced law due to his political workload.

Personal life

Reddy was married on 7 June 1950 to Smt. K. Shyamla Reddy. He had two sons and three daughters. His son, Kotla Jayasurya Prakasha Reddy, was a Member of Parliament representing Kurnool Parliamentary constituency for his second term. Reddy's interests included sports, games, and reading. He was the captain of his hockey and football teams at Besant Theosophical College in Madanapalli, Andhra Pradesh and Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Sports Council from 1967 to 1969. He improved infrastructure in the Kurnool District and developed farmland in his native village.

Political career

Reddy represented several assembly constituencies in the district, but his major breakthrough came when he was elected as chairman of Zilla Parishad. He held several posts both in the Indian National Congress party and in central and state governments. He was the ninth chief minister in the undivided Andhra Pradesh. Reddy engaged ion value-based politics, and he remained respected even after losing his Chief Ministership to N. T. Rama Rao. After his death, "Kisan ghat" was erected in his memory by the state government.

As a politician, Reddy was credited with starting 15 primary and secondary schools in villages throughout the Kurnool District in Andhra Pradesh. As Chief Minister, he was known for introducing a mid-day meal scheme in primary schools for children 6–11 years old in the state of Andhra Pradesh. He also became known for supplying rice at a highly subsidised rate of Rs 1.90 per kg for poor families. Reddy became MLA for the first time in 1955, but he was denied a ticket in 1962. Unlike other Chief Ministers, Reddy did not have any corruption charges brought against him.

Positions held

Throughout his 44-year career, Reddy served in both local and national positions. His work included the following:

Designations