Sikkim ex-Governor, BJP Senior Leader Rama Rao Passes Away

Hyderabad: Sikkim former Governor and senior BJP leader V. Rama Rao died here on Sunday.As the ailing 80-year-old Rama Rao's health condition deteriorated, he was admitted in Apollo Hospitals this morning where he breathed his last in the late afternoon.

Survived by wife Vasantha Kumari and son Srinivas, Rama Rao worked as the Governor of Sikkim from 2002 to 2005. A soft-spoken clean politician for 60 years, he joined Jana Sangh in 1956 as a member and went on to serve as a member of the National Executive of Bharatiya Jana Sangh until it changed into Bharatiya Janata Party. He served as state BJP president for two consecutive terms from 1993 to 2001 and as party National Vice President between 2002 and 2007.

Born in Machilipatnam in Krishna district on December 12, 1935, Rama Rao was elected to Andhra Pradesh State Legislative Council from Hyderabad Graduates' Constituency for four consecutive times in 1966, 1972, 1978 and 1984. He served as a party's Floor Leader in council during his last term. He also served as a senate member of Osmania University.

State BJP president G. Kishan Reddy and senior MP and Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya condoled the death of Rama Rao.