Former Andhra Pradesh Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao commits suicide

Mangalore Today News Network

Hyderabad, Sep 16, 2019: Andhra Pradesh assembly Speaker Kodela Siva Prasad Rao has committed suicide at his home in Hyderabad, the police said today. Mr Rao, 72, was one of the senior-most leaders of the opposition Telugu Desam Party in the state, NDTV reported.

 

He was taken to Basavatarakam Hospital - which he had set up with actor-politician Balakrishna - where doctors confirmed his death.

Mr Rao became Speaker in 2014 after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to create Telangana. The six-time MLA - he won from Narsaraopet five times and Sattenapalli in 2014 - has also served as the home minister and the panchayat raj minister.

Mr Rao joined the TDP in 1983. He is survived by two sons and a daughter.

Mr Rao, who was born in a farmer’s family, went on to become a doctor after graduating from Guntur Medical College.