Shobha Nagi Reddy dies in mishap

• Four-time MLA suffered grievous injuries as her car overturned
• She breathed her last while undergoing treatment in Hyderabad
• Scores of leaders mourn her death; funeral in Allagadda today

Hyderabad: YSR Congress Party candidate B Shobha Nagi Reddy (46), who was seeking a re-election from Allagadda constituency in Kurnool district, succumbed to her injuries on Thursday, police said. She is survived by her husband former MP Bhuma Nagi Reddy, two daughters and a son. Her funeral will take place at Allagadda on Friday morning. YSRCP leaders Jaganmohan Reddy, Vijayalakshmi, Sharmila and others will attend it. Shobha, a sitting MLA and deputy floor leader in the Assembly, was seriously injured after the car in which she was travelling turned turtle around 11.30pm on Wednesday while returning to Allagadda after participating in a campaign at Nandyal along with Sharmila. She was rushed to a private hospital in Kurnool first and as she suffered multiple injuries and was in a critical condition, she was shifted to Care Hospital in Banjara Hills on Thursday morning. Hospital sources said she suffered severe bleeding injuries.

Two gunmen and the vehicle driver, who were travelling along with Shobha also suffered injuries and are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kurnool; they are said to be out of danger. It is learnt that the vehicle driver lost control as he applied sudden brakes to avoid paddy was put on the road. A pall of gloom descended on YSRCP headquarters after the news broke out that Shobha was no more.

Party honorary President YS Vijayalaxmi who was to go to West Godavari cancelled here trip and rushed to the hospital. She was in tears after visiting the body.

Party senior leaders M Rajamohan Reddy, M V Mysura Reddy, Dinesh Reddy and Vasi Reddy Padma and Lok Satta president Jayaprakash Narayan, TDP leader N Rajakumari and film actors Raja and Manchu Lakshmi were among others who visited the hospital and paid their respects. were among the others visited the hospital and condoled the death of the senior leader.

Shocked by the tragic death of his party leader, Jaganmohan Reddy wound up his poll campaign ‘Jana Bheri’ in Guntur district and rushed to the city. Sharmila who was in Kurnool district also rushed back to Hyderabad. She said Shobha had shared the dais with her at the YSRCP public meetings at Nandyal and its surrounding areas on Wednesday. "I have lost my elder sister. It is really shocking," she added.

Expressing his shock and dismay over her death, Jaganmohan Reddy said, “"She was with me when I was in difficulties. I am shocked at the accident and her death. It is a sad news for me." Governor E S L Narasimhan, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu, CPM leader B V Raghavulu and several others expressed their shock over the sudden death of Shobha. The four-time MLA forayed into politics in 1996 with the support of her father and senior leader S V Subba Reddy. She began electoral politics by winning the by election in 1997 from Allagadda on behalf of TDP and held sway in her native district. She was also appointed as TDP general secretary and was made the first women chairperson of APSRTC in 1999.

In 2009 election, she switched loyalties to the PRP ( Praja Rajyam Party) and won the election again from the same constituency. While the PRP was contemplating to merge the party with Congress, she quit the party and joined YSRCP. Shobha was elevated as the Deputy Floor leader of the party in the Assembly after winning the 2012 by- election on behalf of YSR Party.