My friend YSR is no more. People those who are not aware of our close relationship may call me an opportunist. Because I am now with the Telugu Desam Party and he was the undisputed leader of Andhra Congress till he died in a tragic air crash, yesterday.
Today, there is no difference between politics and the personal lives of most politicians. A few leaders maintain a healthy friendship with their political rivals.
YSR and I shared that rare relationship after we parted ways in 2003. YSR was my most trusted, close friend for nearly 30 years. Like me, he was also from Kadapa. We both went to a medical college and became doctors. He went to a medical college at Gulbarga in neighbouring Karnataka. I went to a medical college in my hometown Kadapa.
We knew each other even when we were in college. But, we became close friends in the early 1980s. YSR was a first-time MLA and a minister. Chandra Babu Naidu was also a first-time MLA and a minister in the same government! The three of us used to meet regularly. Babu left Congress and joined his father-in-law, Telugu icon N T Rama Rao's TDP.
After Babu left the Congress, I entered electoral politics and won my first Assembly elections in 1984. YSR was the youngest PCC president. He was just 34! Infact he gave me a ticket to contest the elections. We sat in the Opposition till 1989.
In 1989, the Congress wave swept Andhra Pradesh. NTR lost miserably. YSR went to the Lok Sabha. I remained in state politics and became the Home Minister of A.P.
YSR was happy to see my quick growth in politics. He once told me that he wouldn't return to state politics and I was free to rule state politics!
I lost the Assembly elections in 1994. YSR came to console me. He was a very kind-hearted man. He was very generous and friendly. YSR wouldn't say no to anybody. I can't forget those heady days in politics.
We used to travel together across Rayalaseema. I don't remember the number of times we ate at each other's house. At that time, A.P Congress was led by stalwarts like P V Narasimha Rao, Kotla Vijaybhaskar Reddy etc. It was not so easy to climb the ladder of success and make an impression. YSR himself shared those secretes, frustrations and anguish with me on several occasions. We were always there for each other.
A go-getter, YSR had a very strong will and was extremely courageous. He had justified his title 'King of Rayalaseema' by his actions and achievements.
I had to leave the Congress in 2003. YSR was responsible for my exit and later defection to the TDP. This is not the right time to discuss such things or blame him.
Political compulsions are different. Sometimes, one has to sacrifice one's own people to survive in that minefield of politics. I have nothing against my friend YSR.
Lately we were not in touch. I used to meet him rarely, that too for very official and short meetings. But, he remained courteous and friendly as usual.
The last meeting between him and me took place a month back at A.P Vidhan Sabha. Who knew that he would die so soon?
Otherwise I would have hugged my friend YSR for the last time.
I will always miss you, my friend, YSR.
May your soul rest in peace.
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