The First Christian AP Chief Minister draws strength from prayer.

HYDERABAD : The recent Lok Sabha election did bring many surprises as written off grand old –Congress party bounces back to form the government at the centre and behind their spectacular performance in Andra Pradesh(AP) State Assembly is one politician, who is none other than a devote Christian, who had been crowned the Chief Ministership.

Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy, popularly known as YSR in the political circle, had led his party and allies to a thumping victory in the State Assembly election, garnering a massive 226 seats of the total 294–member Legislative Assembly; leaving only 49 seats to Telegu Desam Party (TDP) and their ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Born in Eighth of July 1949, AP new Chief Minister is a doctor by profession and had served as Medical Officer at CSI Campbell Hospital, Jammalamadugu for a brief period after he completed his MBBS. It is learned that he never took money from poor patients when he was serving in the hospital. And his commitment to help poor people remains the same even after he joined politics. After assuming Chief Minister, he said, “My government would spare no efforts to address the problems faced by these depressed sections and I will try to mitigate their woes”.

In fact, Dr. Reddy is a committed Christian, he confessed, “ I read the Bible every morning and pray for half an hour every day to be with my Lord. This gives me mental peace, energy and God’s strength to clear my doubts and be ready for the day’s business”. Dr. Reddy attends Church of South India (CSI), which is one of the most prominent protestant pillars in India.

On his elevation as Chief Minister, Dr. Reddy’s family know too well that it is the blessing of God that he has assumed this new task. Wife Vijayalakshmi said, “It's all Lord Jesus Christ’s blessings.”

“When my son missed being the chief minister by a whisker in 1994, I thought he had no blessings from Lord Jesus. I have realized now that the Lord does all things in His time to serve the people. Praise the Lord,” said his jubilant mother, Jayamma, 81, the first to convert to Christianity.

Behind the success of Dr. Reddy are his parents, who had converted to Christianity during British India. They helped in setting up Missionary Hospitals and Schools in Pulivendula region, the constituency from where Dr. Reddy was elected. His parents have always stood for the poor and the needy of the area.

Many Christian leaders have hailed Dr. Reddy’s elevation to the State’s top post.

“Under his leadership, I am certain that the poor will get relief and concrete programmes to alleviate their poverty”, said Andra Pradesh Regional Bishops’ Council chairman Archbishop Kagithapu Mariadas.

According to Church of South India Bishop B P Sugandhard, the mature political leader is “down to earth man with compassion for the poor”. The Bishop said that although he was out of power over a decade and half, he continued his crusade for the poor like a true Christian.

“He may not be a regular Church man but he is a true Christian. He prays regularly and I should know as I have known the family for a long time. Family prayers are a must for them,” said Jetti A Oliver, Secretary of Andhra Pradesh Council of Churches.

Dr. YSR will be an inspiration for many Christians in India. With dignity, honesty and serving heart to the downtrodden, he has shown a true Christian nature in him. As the Holy Bible says, the one who serves will be the master. When the one who truly understands this paradox of the word of God, politicians can run the government with truth and justice.