Former Minister Rajagopal Reddy passes away

Kadapa: Senior Congress leader and former Minister R Rajagopal Reddy died on early Wednesday at a private hospital in Tirupati, family sources said. Reddy, who had been suffering from a heart problem since Monday, was admitted to Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital (SVIMS), where he breathed his last around 2 am.

He was 80 and is survived by wife, two sons and a daughter. Born on October 20, 1933, Reddy completed his engineering education and entered politics in 1962. He won his first election in 1967. He was elected to the state Assembly for six times from Lakkireddypalli constituency.

Reddy was associated with Congress, Janata Party as well as the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and worked as a minister in the Cabinets of former Chief Ministers P V Narasimha Rao and N T Rama Rao. In 1978, Reddy quit Congress to join the Janata Party. However, after he lost the polls on Janata Party ticket, he returned to the Congress. In 1984, he joined the TDP. However, following differences with NTR, he rejoined Congress in 1989. Reddy was an expert on water issues of Rayalaseema. He contributed to the construction of Veligallu and Jarikona projects. Political leaders mourned the death of the former minister. The body was brought to his native Lakkireddypalli village, where the funeral would be held on Thursday, family sources said.