He was the younger brother of former CM Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, popularly known as YSR, and paternal uncle of YSRCP president, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. Former Member of Parliament and State minister Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy passed away in the early hours of Friday in Kadapa. He was the younger brother of former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, popularly known as YSR, and paternal uncle of YSRCP president, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. Reddy was initially believed to have suffered heart attack around dawn, but his family members, who found blood and bruises over his face, have expressed suspicion over the death as he was alone at home on the ill-fated night. They have complained to the police. Born on August 8, 1950 in Pulivendula, Reddy rose in politics under the mentorship of late YSR and wielded enough clout across Kadapa district in general and Pulivendula constituency in particular. He won Pulivendula assembly constituency twice (in 1989 and 1994) and represented Kadapa Lok Sabha in the parliament twice. In 2009, he was elected as MLC and given the portfolio of Agriculture after YSR passed away in Kiran Kumar Reddy cabinet. Relationship soured with his nephew Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy after the latter walked out of the Congress party and floated YSR Congress. Initially, Viveka stayed loyal to the Congress, but subsequently switched over to YSR Congress. Following a complaint by his personal assistant Krishna Reddy, the Pulivendula police have registered a case of suspicious death and is likely to perform an autopsy.<doc-sep>File Photo: Vivekananda Reddy Key Highlights Police said that Reddy had injuries on his the forehead, head and its back, besides on the hand and thigh This was the third unnatural death in the YS family that has a powerful political hold in Kadapa district AMARAVATI: Y S Vivekananda Reddy, former minister and younger brother of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister M Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, was Friday found dead at his house in state's Kadapa district . Police initially registered a case under Section 174 Cr P C (unnatural death) when the body of Reddy was found by his staff early in the morning. After a post-mortem in the local government hospital, police confirmed the case was altered to Section 302 IPC that relates to murder. His party, the YSR Congress, demanded a CBI investigation into the case even as the Andhra Pradesh government constituted a Special Investigation Team, headed by CID additional director general of police Amit Garg, to probe the death. This was the third unnatural death in the YS family that has a powerful political hold in Kadapa district. While the father Y S Raja Reddy was murdered in 1998, the eldest son M Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was killed in a helicopter crash in 2009. Vivekananda Reddy was a two-time MLA, two-time MP and a one-term MLC. He served as agriculture minister in the N Kiran Kumar Reddy government in united Andhra Pradesh. The 68-year old YSR Congress leader is survived by his wife and a daughter. Police said injuries were found on the forehead, head and its back, besides on the hand and thigh. "We have gathered some clues in the case. We are questioning the former ministers household staff. Some fingerprints were also collected from the scene," Kadapa District SSP Rahul Dev Sharma said. "We have taken the case seriously and are investigating it from all angles," Sharma added. Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu spoke with director general of police R P Thakur and other senior officials and asked them to conduct a thorough investigation into the former minister's deaths and not spare the guilty, said a CMO communique. Naidu recalled Vivekananda's services as a public representative and extended sympathies to the bereaved family. His death sparked a political row between the TDP and the YSRC. "He actively took part in election campaign in Jammalamadugu yesterday. That he died suddenly gives rise to several suspicions. So we want a CBI investigation to bring out the facts," YSRC spokesperson Vasireddy Padma demanded. State animal husbandry minister C Adinarayana Reddy, who belongs to Jammalamadugu, took objection to YSRCs insinuation and said it has become a habit for the opposition to politicise everything. "I also want to know the facts behind such a nice persons death. We too want an impartial inquiry, but YSRC leaders should stop mudslinging," he told reporters here. YSR Congress President Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and his mother Vijayamma rushed to Pulivendula from Hyderabad on hearing the news. Known to be a down-to-earth and genial person, Vivekananda was elected as MLA in 1989 and 1994 from his hometown Pulivendula in Kadapa district. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Kadapa constituency in 1999 and 2004 and to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council in 2009. He had a differences of opinion with his nephew Y S Jaganmohan Reddy after the latter quit the Congress and established the YSR Congress, and chose to stay back with the parent party. Vivekananda lost the byelection to his sister-in-law, Vijayamma in 2011. Subsequently, the family differences were sorted out and Vivekananda Reddy joined the YSRC. Two days ago, he was seen at the Lotus Pond residence of Jaganmohan Reddy in Hyderabad and on Thursday, he campaigned for the YSRC in Kadapa district. He was reportedly alone at his residence in Pulivendula on Thursday night. "There was no response when I went to his house this morning. I called his wife in Hyderabad over phone and she asked me not to disturb him. Later, the cook and other household staff reached the house but they too did not get any response. I then went in through a side door and found Vivekananda's body in the bathroom, with blood clots in the bedroom and the bathroom. There were several injuries on his body," Vivekananda's personal assistant M V Krishna Reddy said. He lodged a complaint with the police, based on which the FIR was registered. YSRC MP V Vijayasai Reddy expressed shock over the former minister's death. "He was such a humble person who always engaged himself in public service. It is a huge loss to the YSRC and also the state," the MP said in a message.<doc-sep>Pulivendula: YSR Congress president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday accused the TDP of orchestrating former MP, YS Vivekananda Reddy's murder and demanded a CBI probe in the matter. “When my grandfather YS Raja Reddy was murdered TDP was in power when there was an attempt on my life at Vizag airport, TDP was in power and when this murder happened, TDP was again in power. Two days before the helicopter crash in which my father Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy died, Chandrababu Naidu told the assembly that you (YSR) will not return,” he said after paying tributes to YS Vivekananda Reddy on Friday. Substantiating his stance he said, “On all the occasions there was a conspiracy and the details could come out fully only when an independent agency is investigating. The ongoing investigation has been shoddy. The police is trying to divert the attention with wrong leads and fabricated evidence which they have done when there was an attack on me at the airport.” YSRCP leader Vijay Sai Reddy echoed similar sentiments and told ANI, “Chandrababu Naidu is a person who believes in murder politics. We believe even today that Naidu, his son and Adinarayana Reddy are involved in this murder; we demand an impartial inquiry by the CBI.” YS Vivekananda Reddy was found dead at his residence on Friday morning. He is survived by his wife and a daughter. Reddy was elected as an MLA from Pulivendula constituency in 1989 and 1994. He became a Member of Parliament from Kadapa Lok Sabha seat in 1999 and 2004. In 2009, he was elected as MLC.<doc-sep>Government forms SIT, YSRCP demands CBI probe Former Member of Parliament Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy, younger brother of the former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and paternal uncle of YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, was found dead under suspicious circumstances at his Pulivendula residence in the early hours of Friday. News trickling initially in the morning said Mr. Vivekananda Reddy died of heart attack, but it later turned out be a case of murder, when the police started investigation after his personal assistant and family members expressed doubts. As the murder soon snowballed into a political row between YSRCP and TDP, the State government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT). But YSRCP leaders said they had no faith in the SIT and demanded a CBI probe into the case. The personal assistant Krishna Reddy, who was first to reach Mr. Reddy’s house around 5.30 a.m., said in his complaint with local police station in Pulivendula that he called Mr. Reddy’s wife when he was not responding. But after some time when he was still not responding, Mr. Krishna Reddy took the domestic help and watchman to see if Mr. Reddy had gone for a morning walk. The watchman then noticed that the one of the doors was open. When they entered the house, they found blood stains and Mr. Reddy’s body in the wash room. YSRCP leader and Mr. Jagan’s maternal uncle, Ravindranath Reddy alleged involvement of Minister Adinaryana Reddy and TDP leader from Pulivenduala, Satish Reddy. Both have denied the charges.<doc-sep>
YS Vivekananda Reddy, former minister and uncle of Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress (YSRC) president YS Jaganmohan Reddy, reportedly died of a cardiac arrest at his house in Andhra Pradesh’s Kadapa district on Friday. The local police registered a case of suspicious death following a complaint by Vivekananda Reddy’s personal assistant Krishna Reddy after the politician’s family raised doubts over his death, citing bleeding injuries on his head and temples. He was 68 and is survived by wife YS Sowbagya and daughter Sunitha, who is a medical practitioner in the US. Vivekananda Reddy died after returning home from an election campaign for the YSRC candidate S Raghurami Reddy in Mydukuru assembly constituency. He was found dead in the wash room by one of his domestic helps. He was living alone at his Pulivendula house and his wife was in the United States with her daughter and son-in-law. The YSRC leader had undergone a surgery for heart ailments in the past. Family members said he will be cremated according to Christian rituals after his wife and daughter reach Pulivendula. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on friday has ordered constitution of a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the death. Vivekananda was elder brother of former Andra Pradesh chief minister and Jagan Reddy’s father late YS Rajasekhara Reddy. He served as the Lok Sabha member from Kadapa twice from 1999 to 2009 and another two terms as an MLA from Pulivendula (1989-94 and 1994-99) from the Congress in the undivided state. Jaganmohan Reddy, who was scheduled to launch his party’s election campaign and announce the candidates’ list from his native Idupulapaya on Saturday, rushed to Pulivenduala. He was accompanied by his mother Vijayamma, wife Bharati and sister Sharmila to pay last respects to his uncle. YSRC spokesperson Talasila Raghuram said the party is yet to decide on the postponement of Saturday’s schedule regarding release of candidates list. Vivekananda stood by the Congress when Jagan Reddy broke ties with the grand old party, raising a banner of revolt against the Gandhi family in 2010. In return, he was rewarded with an MLC post and the agriculture ministry in the N Kiran Kumar Reddy government. This led to a split in the YS family with Congress high command fielding Vivekananda against Vijayamma, his sister-in-law and Jagan’s mother in Pulivendula in the 2011 by-election only to suffer a humiliating defeat. The by-election was caused after Vijayamma resigned as an MLA according to the party’s decision. Vivekananda Reddy later returned to Jagan’s party.