Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Thursday expressed shock and sorrow over the demise of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.
Conveying his condolences to people of Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Reddy’s family and Congress leaders including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, the Chief Minister, in a statement, recalled the services of his Andhra Pradesh counterpart to the State and the Congress party. Dr. Reddy, who started his career as a doctor of medicine, joined the party and held various positions such as Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Member of Parliament and Member of Legislative Assembly. He became the Chief Minister in 2004 and was re-elected to the post recently after the general elections to the State Assembly. His performance as Chief Minister made the Congress president Ms Gandhi proud of him.
Mr Karunanidhi said the news regarding Dr. Reddy’s death had dashed his personal hope that the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister would return safely.
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He announced that educational institutions and offices of the State government would remain closed on Friday, as a mark of respect to Dr. Reddy. The Chief Minister appealed to commercial establishments and private industrial units to declare a holiday.