NJR: A Practical Politician

Nedurumalli Janardhana Reddy (NJR) who died on Friday was a politician who was known for his shrewd ways in climbing up the political ladder. Helping friends and followers and harming rivals without using harsh language or violent means has been his forte. He is soft spoken and pacifist in nature. Endowed with robust commonsense, he always tried to solve problems through dialogue and accommodation. He was not known to be uncompromising in his personal life. But, as an administrator, he believed in development giving top priority to power and irrigation. Starting life as a school teacher in mathematics, NJR established and expanded educational institutions at Vakadu, his native place in Nellore district. He became close to PV Narasimha Rao when the latter was the minister in charge of education. PV encouraged NJR to enter politics by making him a Member of Legislative Council. A practical politician, NJR gradually rose to high office and came to be considered as, in filmy idiom, “Nellore Peddaayana”.

Challenging the hegemony of AC Subba Reddy, who ruled the roost for almost three decades, NJR slowly but steadily, took Nellore district into his grip. He was known to have encouraged leaders from oppressed communities and became a champion of the downtrodden. He was a converted Christian and helped many SC leaders to get tickets and win elections. From Doddi Kamakshaiah, Pasula Penchalaiah, Vatra Prakasha Rao to Panabaka Lakshmi, NJR had made many of his followers ministers in State or members of parliament. To counter AC Subba Reddy he also mentored young politicians like Dr Sundar Rama Reddy. Kaliki Yanadi Reddy, Patalapalli Vengal Rao, Nuvvula Venkataratnam Naidu and many others. Nallapareddy Srinivasulu Reddy was compelled to leave the party and join NT Rama Rao when the cine hero founded Telugu Desam Party (TDP). NJR was a minister in the cabinets of Jalagam Vengal Rao, Channa Reddy, Anjaiah, Bhavanam Venkatram and Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy. NJR’s wife Rajyalakshmi was a member of YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s cabinet. NJR became Chief Minister in 1990 succeeding Channa Reddy. He had to leave after two years in the wake of allegations of irregularities in according permissions to private medical and engineering colleges. He was, however, emulated by the TDP government, especially the regime headed by N Chandrababu Naidu who encouraged private sector to set up hundreds of engineering colleges. NJR was member of Assembly, Council, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. He was a minister, chief minister and PCC president. The only post he dreamt of but could not fill was that of union minister. He was a sitting member of Rajya Sabha when he breathed last. He represented Bapatla, Narasaraopet and Visakhapatnam in Lok Sabha. He was loyal to the Congress party and leaders like Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. He had differences with Kotla Vijaybhaskara Reddy and YSR. But he never indulged in dissident activity nor did he utter a word against his rivals in public. He always spoke in a polite and decent manner. He did not think of leaving the party even when he felt ignored. He was known to be very close to Karupaiah Moopanar and ML Fotedar at national level. NJR impressed the AICC leadership when he organised the party’s plenary at Tirupati in April 1991 very successfully when PV was PM.

NJR should have become Chief Minister in 1982 itself. RK Dhawan, secretary to Indira Gandhi telephoned from Delhi and asked NJR to be ready to take over the reins from Bhavanam Venkatram Reddy. But a last minute intervention by Pranab Mukherjee was said to have deprived NJR of the opportunity to head the State. Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy was elevated instead. NJR did not mind being a minister in Kotla’s cabinet handling Revenue matters. He had to wait exactly for a decade to wear the mantle. NJR was known to have best of relations with top bureaucracy. Many IAS and IPS officers who worked with him at various levels remained friends for life. Known to be a good administrator, NJR handled cyclone relief work in Nellore district efficiently. He did not hesitate to take strong measures to curb Naxalites who enjoyed freedom for a few years on account of Channa Reddy’s soft policy. He was targeted by Naxalites for his tough stance. He survived an attack in September 2007. Having seen the lows and highs of political life, NJR did not push any of his four sons towards politics all these years. Only in this election, his eldest son Ramkumar Reddy entered the fray as a Congress candidate from Venkatagiri constituency. Ramkumar found the going tough and gave in just two days before the polls retiring in favour of YSRCP candidate. With NJR’s demise, a senior and sober politician disappeared from the scene.