Former Minister and Congress leader Reddappagari Rajagopala Reddy (81) died of cardiac arrest in Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences at Tirupati in the early hours of Wednesday.
Rajagopala Reddy was elected MLA of Lakkireddipalle in Kadapa district on Congress ticket in 1967 and 1972 and was elected as TDP candidate in 1983, 1985 and 1989. He served as Irrigation Minister in P.V. Narasimha Rao’s Cabinet in 1972 and was Agriculture and Transport Minister in the TDP rule between 1983 and 1989.
An engineer turned politician, the veteran leader strived for the construction of Jharikona, Veligallu, Ganganeru, Buggavanka and Kaletivagu projects and focussed on farmers’ problems. He took active part in the Jai Andhra movement in 1972. He is survived by two sons, former MLA R. Ramesh Kumar Reddy, who is presently the Congress in-charge of Rayachoti constituency and contractor R. Srinivas Reddy.Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy expressed his sorrow over the death of former Minister R. Rajagopala Reddy. Meanwhile, a helipad was readied at Lakkireddipalle as the Chief Minister was likely to fly to Lakkireddipalle to pay last respects to Rajagopala Reddy on Thursday.
