Former Bhadrachalam MLA, and senior CPI (M) leader and Girijana Sangam leader Sunnam Rajaiah (68), reportedly died of COVID-19 in the early hours on Tuesday.
He died while being shifted from Hyderabad to a COVID-19 Hospital in Vijayawada. He is survived by wife, two sons and two daughters.
A native of Sunnamvaari Gudem village, V.R. Puram mandal, in East Godavari district, Mr. Rajaiah served as Bhadrachalam MLA for three terms.
He participated in many tribal agitations, protecting tribal lands and their rights in the Agency areas in Bhadrachalam, East and West Godavari districts.
The three-time MLA also participated in many agitations in the CPI(M).
The Andhra Pradesh Girijana Sangam, Adivasi Sankshema Sangam and leaders of other organisations expressed grief over the demise of Rajaiah. Meanwhile, traders voluntarily observed a bandh at many villages in the Agency areas of East and West Godavari districts after hearing the demise of Sunnam Rajaiah.