Congress Leader Jaipal Reddy No More

Senior Congress Leader and Former Union Minister S Jaipal Reddy passed away today at around 1.30 AM in Hyderabad. Reddy, 77, was admitted to the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology in Gachibowli with a high fever a few days back, and was undergoing treatment.

Jaipal Reddy’s mortal remains have been shifted to his residence at Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad.

Jaipal Reddy joined politics as a student leader of Osmania University and went on to become Congress MLA in 1970s. He was elected to the Lok Sabha four times and Rajya Sabha twice.

In the wake of a rise of opposition to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi after she imposed Emergency in the country, Reddy joined Janata Party and later Janata Dal in the splinter groupings that took place.

He was four time MLA from Makthal from 1969 to 1984. Janata Party general secretary from 1985 to 1988, elected to Lok  Sabha for the first time in 1984 from Mahbubnagar.

He was Rajya Sabha member from 1990 to 1996 and became Leader of Opposition in the Upper House in 1991-1992.

He rejoined Congress in 1999 and was elected to Lok Sabha from Miryalguda in 2004. He won the next time in 2009 from Chevella constituency.

Known for his oratorical skills, Reddy was heard with spellbound attention in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly in his heydays as an MLA of Makthal constituency in Mahbubnagar district.