Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy celebrated his 59th birthday in Maldives with family and close friends. The chief minister, who left on a five-day private visit to Maldives Saturday, celebrated the day on the scenic islands. He is accompanied by 20 people, including wife Vijayalakshmi, son Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy and his family, daughter Sharmila, evangelist son-in-law Anil Kumar and grandchildren.

This was the third consecutive year that YSR, as the chief minister is popularly known, celebrated the birthday abroad and second in a row in Maldives. He had celebrated his 57th birthday in Jerusalem.

YSR earlier used to celebrate the occasion with the family in his native Kadpa district.

This time the chief minister's close friend and Rajya Sabha member K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao is accompanying him so also his personal secretary Suridu. His visit with the chief strategist Ramchandra Rao has sparked off speculations that during the five-day vacation they would also discuss strategy for the ensuing elections.

The assembly elections in the state are scheduled to be held in March-April next year. YSR has already completed four years in office and though he has ruled out early elections, the political uncertainty in New Delhi could force him to go for simultaneous polls.

YSR had led the Congress party to a landslide victory in 2004 elections, ending nearly a decade long rule of the Telugu Desam Party.