Kodela Sivaprasada Rao: From general surgeon to Speaker chair

Sixty seven-year-old Kodela Siva Prasad Rao was elected unopposed as the first Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly  on Friday.

 His name was proposed by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and seconded by leader of the Opposition Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Kodela, a physician by profession, is a six-time MLA and had served in various ministries like the panchayatraj, health, irrigation and home ministry. 

His political foray began with his joining the TDP in 1983. He had won from Narsaraopet and had represented the constituency ever since. However, this time around, he had contested and won from Sattenapalli in Guntur district. 

Chandrababu Naidu was all praise for Kodela and recollected his long association with him.

Jagan Mohan Reddy hoped that Speaker would not be biased and would give opposition party equally opportunity based on the merit of the issues they raise in the Assembly.

-Siva@Sakshipost