It is a known fact that former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh Y S Rajasekhar Reddy was a chaste Christian by faith, but not many people were aware that he also religiously followed Hindu traditions both at home and outside.
This was disclosed by YSR’s close aide and former MP Vundavalli Arun Kumar in an interview to a YouTube channel.
He said YSR may have been identified as a Christian in official records, he had also practised Hindu traditions.
Vundavalli recalled an incident from the time when YSR was a member of parliament.
“I, YSR and Jakkampudi Ram Mohan Rao had once visited Annavaram together. YSR sat through a Satyanarayana Vratham for nearly one-and-a-half hours, while I myself could not sit for that long because of knee pain,” he said.
When asked about it, YSR told him that he had performed the Satyanarayana Vratham several times in the past.
“In fact, YSR had a staunch faith in Lord Venkateshwara of Tirumala and he had trekked Tirumala hills after completing his famous padayatra in 2023. Even YSR’s son and former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy had similarly undertaken the pilgrimage to Tirumala on foot,” he said.
Vundavalli further said he was introduced to YSR through K V P Ramachandra Rao and reflected on his own political journey in Rajahmundry, saying he had lost twice and won twice.
He remarked that in those days, a candidate’s victory or defeat was viewed as the party’s victory or defeat, and added that when he won as Rajahmundry MP, people had voted more for the party than for him personally.