Hyderabad: Senior YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader and member of assembly Shobha Nagi Reddy died on Thursday of multiple injuries on Thursday after she met with an accident in the wee hours in Kurnool district.
45-year-old Shobha who was rushed to Care Hospital in Hyderabad in a very critical condition breathed her last at 11am on Thursday.
Shobha, who was contesting from Allagadda assembly constituency in Kurnool district, was returning to her hometown after campaigning when her car turned turtle at Gubagundametta village near Allagadda.
Police said the accident occurred when the car driver applied breaks to avoid colliding with a heap of paddy on the road. The car overturned six or seven times and Shobha fell out of the car suffering serious head and neck injuries.
First she was taken to a hospital in Nandyal for preliminary treatment. By the time she was rushed to Hyderabad, she had slipped into a coma, doctors said.
“We are sad to inform that Shobha Nagi Reddy who was brought on April 24 following a major road accident is no more,” a medical bulletin issued by Care hospital said.
She is survived by her husband and former member of Lok Sabha, Bhuma Nagi Reddy, two daughters and a son.
Bhuma Nagi Reddy is also in the fray from Nandyal Lok Sabha constituency in Kurnool district. The couple was quite popular in the faction ridden Allagadda, where Bhuma Nagi Reddy was involved in a running feud with other powerful Reddy families and faction.
Shobha, youngest daughter of former minister S. V. Subba Reddy had quiet an eventful political career and earned a reputation as a strong woman leader. Starting with 1997 by elections, she was elected to the state assembly four times. She started her career with Telugu Desam Party (TDP), where she became MLA as well as party general secretary, and went on to join Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) of film star Chiranjeevi in 2009. She was elected to the assembly on PRP ticket.
Later she quit the party and joined YSRCP and served as party’s deputy floor leader in the state assembly. She was elected to the state assembly for the first time in 1997 by election. Several top political leaders expressed shock over her sudden demise.
YSRCP president Jaganmohan Reddy cut short his election campaign to rush to Hyderabad. State governor ESL Narasimhan and several top political leaders including Telangana Congress chief Ponnala Lakshmiaha and Seemandhra Congress president Raghuveera Reddy condoled her death.
YSRCP honorary president Vijayalakshmi, former chief minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, state BJP president G. Kishan Reddy and Lok Satta president Jayprakash Narayan were among the political leaders who rushed to the hospital. Election Commission was likely to countermand the election in Allagadda assembly constituency.
Death of Shobha Nagi Reddy during the electioneering has reminded many of the death of popular actress Soundarya’s death during 2004 election campaign. The star who was campaigning for the BJP died in a helicopter crash near Bengaluru on April 17.
Shobha Nagi Reddy will be cremated at Allagadda.
