Who is Y S Jaganmohan Reddy?

Yeduguri Sandinti Jagan Mohan Reddy (Y S Jaganmohan Reddy) is an Indian entrepreneur and a politician serving as the current and 17th chief minister (CM) of Andhra Pradesh since May 30, 2019. He is also the founder and president of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).

 

Early life and education

Y S Jaganmohan Reddy was born on December 21, 1972, in Pulivendula village of Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh, to former CM of Andhra Pradesh Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and Vijayalakshmi. Up to 12th grade, Reddy studied at The Hyderabad Public School. Later, he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Pragathi Mahavidyalaya Degree and PG college, Ram Koti, Hyderabad. He went on to study business management in the United States. After completing his education, he worked for a brief period in the US before returning to India to join his father's business.

Reddy is also a successful businessman, having previously acquired the defunct power project Sandur Power Company Limited (SPCL).

 

Career

Reddy started his political career when he campaigned for the Indian National Congress (INC) during 2004 elections from Kadapa district and got elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) from Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency in 2009. After his father's death in a helicopter crash in 2009, he quit the Congress party and started his own political party, the YSRCP. In 2011, Reddy launched a massive padayatra, a pilgrimage on foot, covering about 3,000 km in 14 months, visiting all the Assembly segments in the state, which helped him gain popularity and support from the people.

 

In 2019, Reddy's party won a landslide victory in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections, winning 151 of 175 seats, resulting in his appointment as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

 

Reddy has been involved in several controversies during his political career. In 2012, he was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a disproportionate assets case. He was released on bail in 2013. In 2017, he was arrested again in a corruption case, but was later acquitted by the court.  As the CM of Andhra Pradesh, Reddy has initiated several welfare schemes for the people of the state. The 'Amma Vodi' scheme, which provides financial assistance to mothers who send their children to school, and the 'Rythu Bharosa' scheme, which provides financial assistance to farmers, are some of the popular schemes launched by his government.