Former MLA and senior leader of the Congress Party ACY Reddy passed away at his residence in the city Wednesday after a brief illness. He was 80.
Reddy, who also served as municipal chairman on two occasions in 1981 and 1989, is credited with laying efforts for the all-round development of the city. Later, he was elected to the Assembly from the Rajahmundry constituency. A close associate of former chief ministers Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy and Nedurumilli Janardhan Reddy, he later shifted to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and returned to the Congress fold shortly thereafter.
ACY Reddy will be remembered for being instrumental in setting up the Nalla Channel to drain out rainwater after the floods inundated Aryapuram and other areas in 1986. The Kotha Road was laid during his tenure. A colony was also named after him in recognition of his services. As municipal chairman, he appointed 300 teachers based on merit, without giving scope for any criticism.
ACY Reddy was also a well-known businessman who served as president of the Rajahmundry Chamber of Commerce. He owned two hotels - Hotel Apsara and Hotel Ajantha, the former being now shut down. As MLA and municipal chairman he had played a key role in the party for a period of two decades in the city. Though he was not involved in active politics for some time, he remained in touch with the people until the last breath of his life. Reddy, who had no children of his own, was taken care of by his brother’s children PV Lakshmi and Babu.
MP Vundavalli Arun Kumar, MLA Routhu Suryaprakasa Rao, Congress leaders Kandula Durgesh, MLC Balasali Indira, TDP leaders G Krishna, GB Choudary, YSRC leaders TKV Reddy, JV Lakshmi, CPI leaders MS Narayana, Y Prakash, MLAs and leaders of various parties and others paid rich tributes to him.