Konijeti Rosaiah

Konijeti Rosaiah (4 July 1933 – 4 December 2021) was an Indian politician who served as the 15th chief minister of Andhra Pradesh from 2009 to 2010. He also served as the Governor of Tamil Nadu from 2011 to 2016 and the Governor of Karnataka (additional charge) for two months. He was previously an MLC, MLA and MP from the Indian National Congress numerous times and handled many ministerial posts over his political career spanning over half a century.

While serving as Governor of Tamil Nadu, he was also given additional responsibility as Governor of Karnataka when Governor H. R. Bhardwaj's term ended on 28 June 2014, until Vajubhai Vala took over on 1 September 2014. After completing his five-year term as Governor of Tamil Nadu, he retired from active politics.

Early life Rosaiah was born into a Telugu-speaking, middle-class Hindu Komati family in Vemuru, Tenali mandal, present day Guntur district, in Andhra Pradesh. He graduated from Guntur Hindu College, Andhra University in Commerce. While he was studying in Guntur, he was elected as the student leader and thus entered into politics. He studied at Zilla Parishad High School.

Political career

Rosaiah began as a political disciple of Swatantra Party leader and independence activist N.G. Ranga. He was elected as MLC in 1968, 1974, 1980 and 2009 and as an MLA in 1989 and 2004 from Chirala assembly constituency. In 1998, he was elected as MP from Narasaraopet. In the year 2011 he was sworn in as Governor of Tamil Nadu. During his long political career he interacted and worked closely with most of the Prime Ministers of India, including Jawaharlal Nehru.

Ministerial portfolios held AP State Minister for Transportation and Roads and Buildings under M. Chenna Reddy from 1978. AP State Minister for Transportation and Housing under T. Anjaiah from 1980. AP State Minister for Home under Kotla Vijaya Bhasker Reddy from 1982. AP State Minister for Finance, Transportation and Electricity under M. Chenna Reddy from 1989. AP State Minister for Finance, Medical & Health, Education and Electricity under Nedurumalli Janardhana Reddy from Dec 1990. AP State Minister for Finance, Medical & Health, Education and Electricity under Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy from Oct 1992. AP State Minister for Finance, Planning & Legislative Affairs under Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy from April 2004.

As APCC President Rosaiah was the President of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) from 1994 to 1996.

As Finance Minister Rosaiah presented the state budget 16 times, including 7 times in a row, a record in the country.

Political History

As per the Information submitted to Parliament Office, as Member of Parliament of 12th Lok Sabha the following positions were held by him: His political career lasted around 60 years.

Honours Andhra University conferred Rosaiah with an honorary doctorate in 2007.

Personal life

He was married on 4 June 1950 to Smt Sivalakshmi. The Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Government of Telangana observed a three-day state mourning as a mark of respect to him. He was cremated with full state honours at his farmhouse in Kompally on 5 December 2021.

K. Rosaiah's statue was unveiled on the occasion of his 92nd birth anniversary at Lakdi ka pul, Hyderabad by All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge along with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on 4 July 2025.