Almost two months after she was elected to the state legislative assembly, a tearful Vijaylakshmi, widow of former Chief Minister YSR Reddy took her oath as an MLA.
Speaker N Kirankumar Reddy administered her oath in Telugu in the presence of several ministers, legislators and other leaders of Congress party.
Vijaylaskhmi was forced to enter the political fray after the death of Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash on September 2, 2008. She was susbsequently won the by-election from Pulivendula in Kadapa district.
Watched by her son and member of Parliament YS Jaganmohan Reddy, Vijaylakshmi took the oath and broke down remembering her late husband. Apart from several ministers and legislators, close family friend KVP Ramachandra Rao, member of Parliament and the state Congress president D Srinivas was also present. She is expected to be the cynosure of all eyes in the budget session of the state assembly which begins on Monday.
Even before she could settle down her new role, YSR loyalists in the party have upped the ante demanding Vijayalakshmi's induction into the state cabinet. Konda Surekha, the minister who had resigned demanding appointment of YS Jaganmohan Reddy as the chief minister demanded that Vijaylakshmi should be made a minister so that she could continue the pro-poor programs launched by YSR.
