Third Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh

Early life

Kasu Brahmananda Reddy (born 28 July 1909 – 20 May 1994 at Hyderabad), was the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, India from 29 February 1964 to 30 September 1971. On 3 June 1977 he was elected president of the Indian National Congress.

Kasu Brahmananda Reddy was born in Chirumamilla in Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh. His early education took place in Guntur and he graduated from Madras Presidency College and also studied in Kerala. He practised law and was avery successful advocate.

Career

Kasu Brahmananda Reddy is credited with creating the Industrial infrastructure in and around Hyderabad. Only congress president to expel Indira Gandhi from Indian National Congress. During his long regime of seven years (Longest for any Congress chief minister in the state of Andhra Pradesh), many major industries like BHEL, HMT, IDPL, Hindustan Cables and several defense establishments like MIDHANI, Bharath Dynamics were established. During his tenure as the Chief Minister, Jalagam Vengal Rao, the Home Minister was instrumental in suppressing the naxal movement in the north coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Kasu spared no effort to keep AP united, even in the face of Telangana movement in 1969. Kasu Brahmananda Reddy also held the key positions, such as TeleCommunications Minister, Finance Minister, Home Minister of India (1974–1977) and Governor of Maharastra (20 February 1988 to 18 January 1990).

He was also only one of two elected All India Congress Committee Presidents, all others having been nominated. Over 9 months of the movement, about 370 youngsters and students were killed in police firings, more than 70,000 people were arrested of which 7000 were women. People were lathicharged 3266 times, about 20,000 people were injured in the lathicharges, and 1840 people had received bullet injuries and fractures, tear gas was used 1870 times.

But it was suppressed by the then Kasu Brahmananda Reddy government by using brute force, of which Kasu Brahmananda Reddy was not responsible for giving the orders. The famous Chiran Palace was named after Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, in his honor.

Personal life

Kasu Brahmananda Reddy is survived by his wife Kasu Raghavamma, they have no children. Kasu Brahmananda Reddy's nephew Kasu Venkata Krishna Reddy (son of his famous brother Kasu Vengala Reddy) is a Cabinet Minister in the A.P. Govt.