HYDERABAD/RAJAHMUNDRY: Kapileswarapuram Zamindar and former Union minister of state for agriculture SBPBK Satyanarayana Rao died after a brief illness at a private hospital in Hyderabad today. He was 91. Rao served people in various capacities during his six-decade political life.
Born in a Zamindar's family at Kapileswarapuram on September 23, 1921,
he worked as a sarpanch from 1953 to 1964, as Panchayat Samithi president from 1959 to 1964 and as East Godavari Zilla Parishad chairman from 1964 to 1976.
He was elected to the AP Legislative Council from the North Circar Districts Graduates Constituency in 1958 and 1980. Rao was elected to the Lok Sabha from Rajahmundry on BJP ticket and worked as a Union minister of state for agriculture from October 13, 1999 to February 7, 2004.
He also established SRVBSJB Maharani College at Peddapuram in 1967. He managed Veda and Harikadha Pathashala at Kapileswarapuram in the 70s. Rao set up sugar and textile industries between 1956 and 1959 at Kakinada and Chelluru. He established Sri Sarvaraya Dharmika Vidya Trust in 1991 to print valuable literary works. His last rites will be performed at his native village on Saturday.
TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu condoled the death of Rao. Naidu recalled that Rao strove to protect the tradition and culture.
BJP leaders Somu Veerraju, Kantipudi Sarvarayudu, Dharwada Rama Krishna, Garimella Chitti Babu, Yelimineti Mala Kondaiah, Ramana N Choudary and B Dutt expressed grief over the demise of Rao.