Veteran TDP leader and former Andhra Pradesh minister Yadlapati Venkata Rao passed away in Hyderabad on Monday, February 28. He was 102. Venkata Rao, also a former MP, breathed his last at his daughter's residence in Hyderabad. Hailing from Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, he served as Agriculture Minister in undivided Andhra Pradesh in the late 1970s.
He was a close follower of the freedom fighter and farmer leader NG Ranga. He was also the founder president of Sangam Dairy. Venkata Rao was first elected to Andhra Pradesh Assembly in 1967 from Vemuru constituency as a candidate of Swatantra Party. He was re-elected in 1972. In 1978, he was re-elected on the Congress party ticket.
He served as Agriculture Minister in the cabinet of Marri Chenna Reddy between 1978 and 1980. Venkata Rao joined Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1983, a few months after it was floated by popular actor NT Rama Rao. The TDP made Venkata Rao a Rajya Sabha member. He also served as member of politburo, the highest decision making body of the TDP. He has not been active in politics since 2004.
రాజకీయ కురువృద్ధులు యడ్లపాటి వెంకట్రావు గారి మృతి బాధాకరం. సుదీర్ఘ రాజకీయ ప్రస్థానం కలిగిన వెంకట్రావు గారి రాజకీయ జీవితం ఎంతో ఆదర్శ ప్రాయంగా సాగింది. రాష్ట్ర మంత్రిగా, జడ్పీ చైర్మన్ గా, రాజ్యసభ సభ్యునిగా పని చేసిన యడ్లపాటి...తాను చేపట్టిన పదవులకు వన్నె తెచ్చారు.(1/2) pic.twitter.com/AAub0WQS05
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) February 28, 2022
TDP president and former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu expressed grief over the death of Venkata Rao. Naidu described Venkata Rao as a fatherly figure in Andhra Pradesh politics who served as a minister and in various other capacities in his long and idealistic political career.
The TDP chief said Yadlapati's life and time would serve as an inspiring example for the young generation. He brought glory to all the posts he adorned in his impressive career, Naidu said. Naidu recalled the bond he had with Yadlapati and said would forever be remembered as a rare personality in politics. Naidu conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed for his soul to rest in peace.
TDP General Secretary Nara Lokesh condoled the death and called him a political stalwart. Lokesh recalled that Yadlapati stood up for clean politics for several decades. His name was synonymous with honesty and fairness, Lokesh said. Lokesh conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members.
తెలుగుదేశం పార్టీ సీనియర్ నేత, మాజీ రాజ్యసభ సభ్యులు యడ్లపాటి వెంకట్రావు గారి మరణం విచారకరం. పార్టీ ఆవిర్భావం నుండి తెలుగుదేశం ఆశయాల సాధన కోసం కృషి చేశారాయన. వయోభారంతో కొంతకాలం నుండి క్రియాశీల రాజకీయాలకు దూరంగా ఉన్నప్పటికీ అవసరమైనప్పుడు తన అభిప్రాయాలను, సలహాలను అందించేవారు(1/2) pic.twitter.com/gxehIFay8G
— Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) February 28, 2022