Congress Veteran M Satyanarayana Rao No More

Veteran Congress leader M Satyanarayana Rao, who was a three-time MP, a minister in the YSR Cabinet, and a TPCC head, is no more. He had been ailing for some time, and had been undergoing treatment at the NIMS.

The 87-year-old is survived by his wife, two daughters and two sons.

A native of Karimnagar district's Vedhira village, MSR was recognised as being an able leader in undivided Andhra Pradesh, and later for his active participation in the first phase of the Telangana agitation.

He later served as the Karimnagar MP as a Telangana Praja Samithi candidate, and subsequently also won the seat again in 1977 and 1980. He also served as the Karimnagar MLA in 2004, had worked as Endowments Minister of undivided AP under then-Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy from 2004 to 2006. He had also worked as AICC Secretary when Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister, and as the PCC chief from 2000 to 2003.

In 2007, the veteran leader was made the chairman of the APSTC and retired from the post in 2014.

Rao once said that his dream had always been to become a governor of one of the states of the country, but before this dream turned to reality to he took a break from politics in 2014 due to his advanced age.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao expressed his grief over MSR's passing, and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family.

In a statement, he said, "In his role as a diehard supporter of the Telangana movement, an MP, a minister in undivided AP, and as chairman of the RTC, MSR had shown a special style of leadership. He was known for his uprightness, and will greatly be missed."

KCR also instructed Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar to ensure that the former MP's cremation was done with official honours.

Ministers Etala Rajender and Gangula Kamalakar too expressed their sorrow at the leader's passing, as did TPCC chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy, TPCC working president Ponnam Prabhakar, CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and current Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar.

Jana Sena Party Chief Pawan Kalyan also expressed his condolences to MSR's family.