JC Diwakar Reddy To Quit Politics: End of The JC Era In Anantapur

Anantapur: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and former Minister JC Diwakar Reddy has decided to call it a day and quit politics.

Addressing the media on Monday after meeting the District SP GVG Ashok Kumar, he stated that he was quitting politics and made it clear that he will not join the ruling party or any other party. Diwakar Reddy thanked the police and district officials for their support and cooperation rendered to him in his 40-year long political career.

Interestingly Diwakar Reddy praised Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for his landslide victory and his efforts to push forward the issue of granting special status to AP with Narendra Modi right after winning the elections.

Also Read: Will Kill You If You Don’t Vote For My Son: JC Diwakar Reddy

The five-time MLA and former MP also stated that he only criticised YS Jagan Mohan Reddy but had no personal animosity against him as he and Jagan's father late Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy were close friends. Getting nostalgic, he recollected the day when he had gone for the 'Rachabanda' program in Chittoor, Dr YSR had promised him and Janardhan Reddy a ministership in his cabinet , but unfortunately he passed away.

He expressed wishes that YS Jagan should rule as a good Chief Minister and it was not correct to criticise his administration at this juncture.

JC Diwakar Reddy had become a controversial figure over the years and was in the eye of many a storm in his 4-decade long chequered political career.

He was part of the YS Rajasekhar Reddy cabinet during 2004-2009 , but was denied entry into the cabinet in 2009 and also later in N. Kiran Kumar Reddy's ministry in 2010.

A staunch Congressman he quit the party in 2014 post bifurcation of AP and joined the TDP in the wake of the changing political dynamics in the Rayalaseema region.

Apart from changing loyalties, the leader was also known to be a motormouth and made controversial comments on YS Jagan and several leaders in the state. He had embarrassed the former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and party leaders on several occasions in the recent past. On the eve of the no-trust vote against the NDA government moved by the TDP in the Lok Sabha, JC Diwakar Reddy who represented Anantapur in the Lower House said that his presence would make no difference to the outcome. He was hinting at defying a party whip, though he subsequently relented and took part in the no-confidence motion.

Also Read: I Don’t Trust Chandrababu On His Promises: TDP MP JC Diwakar Reddy

In the infamous incident in 2017 where he allegedly misbehaved with IndiGo Airlines staff at Visakhapatnam airport and even threw a printer, he refused to tender an apology. This led to aircraft carriers imposing a flying ban on him but was later withdrawn after he filed a case in the High Court seeking removal of the ban.

Also Read: TDP MP JC Diwakar Reddy Barred By 3 Airlines For Unruly Behavior At Vizag Airport

He made abusive comments on the police force (calling them as eunuchs) after the violent incidents in Prabodhananda Ashram in Chinnapolamada involving JC's followers and Ashram inmates. This led to the representatives of the Police Officer's Association, threatening to cut his tongue if he resorted to such unparliamentary language.

Also Read: JC Diwakar Reddy’s Sensational Comments On AP Police

His face-off with CI Gorantla Madhav had become the talk of the town in Tadipatri, where the CI challenged him to meet him. He also said that they were not meant to protect VIPs alone but to maintain law and order in the interest of the public. Gorantla Madhav later joined the YSRCP and YS Jagan Mohan Reddy named him as the Hindupur MP candidate, a seat he won in the recently held elections in 2019.

Also Read: Hold your Tongue: Anantapur Police To JC Diwakar Reddy

The JC brothers’ monopolistic rule over Anantapur seems to have come to a humiliating end with his brother JC Prabahakar Reddy losing the Tadipatri seat to YSRCP candidate Kethireddy Pedda Reddy and his son JC Pawan Reddy losing the Anantapur Parliamentary seat to YSRCP candidate Dr Talari Rangaiah.

Also Read: Anantapur Election Results 2019: MLA & MP Winner List | District & Constituency Wise