YSR Congress MLC Challa Ramakrishna Reddy dies of Covid-19

Challa Ramakrishna Reddy, who has been elected as an MLC only recently, is the second YSRCP leader to succumb to Covid-19.

Senior YSR Congress Party member of Andhra Pradesh legislative council Challa Ramakrishna Reddy died of Covid-19 at a private hospital in Hyderabad on Friday, his family members said. He was 72

File photo of Challa Ramakrishna Reddy. (Photo @ChallaR55314413)

He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.

Reddy had been admitted to the hospital on December 13 and had been on ventilator for the last three weeks. He tested positive for Covid-19 during the winter session of the state legislative council held in the first week of December.

“Over the past week, his condition deteriorated further and he breathed his last this morning,” his family members said, adding that the last rites would be performed at his native place Uppalapadu village of Owk block in Kurnool district.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed his deep grief and sorrow over the demise of Ramakrishna Reddy. Recalling his active role in Kurnool politics, the chief minister conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members.

In 2009, he contested from Banaganapalle constituency and lost to Praja Rajyam Party candidate. In 2014, he joined the TDP but lost the election again. He was later appointed as the State Civil Supplies Corporation Chairman. Before the 2019 assembly elections, he joined the YSRCP.

Reddy, who has been elected as an MLC only recently, is the second YSRCP leader to succumb to Covid-19. In September, parliamentarian from Tirupati Balli Durga Prasad Rao also died of Covid-19 at a private hospital in Chennai.