Kiran Reddy has seen many turns in his long political career

Kiran Kumar Reddy, the last Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh who joined the BJP on Friday, lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi while slamming the leadership of the opposition party.

With this, Reddy became the second Congress leader from South India to switch sides in as many days as Congress veteran A.K. Antony's son Anil joined the BJP only yesterday.

Citing his family's over six-decade-long association with the Congress, Reddy said he never imagined he would ever leave the party. Congress is getting smashed in all States and its high command does not interact with others or take their opinion, he said.

Reddy contrasted the rise of the BJP with the decline of the Congress since 1984 and lauded the ruling party's leaders led by Modi for their hardwork and commitment towards the nation.

Smooth start

Reddy entered the political arena in 1989 and won his first election on a Congress ticket from Vayalpadu. He went on to secure victories in the same constituency in the 1999 and 2004 elections. Later, in 2009, he won from the Pileru Assembly constituency.

Following the resignation of K. Rosaiah, the previous Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, citing personal reasons, Kiran took over as the 16th CM of the State in 2010. Reddy remained Chief Minister of the undivided State between November 25, 2010, and March 1, 2014.

Reddy lobbied against the then UPA government's decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh and carve out Telangana. He struggled hard to keep the state united and exerted pressure on the high command not to grant statehood to Telangana.

Angered over the party high command's refusal to accept his demand not to accord separate statehood to Telangana, Reddy had passed a resolution in the Assembly to keep the State united. He left the party after the split.

Floating new outfit

On 10 March 2014, he floated his new political outfit called Jai Samaikyandhra Party. But the party failed to win a single seat and lost deposits in numerous seats. In 2018, he rejoined Congress. Five years later, Reddy has once again quit the grand old party to join the BJP.

Reddy's decision to join the BJP is crucial ahead of the Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh next year, where the ruling YSR Congress is in direct contest with the opposition Telugu Desam Party. The move would certainly help BJP, which is trying hard to make inroads in the southern State.