Former Union Minister Satyanarayana Rao passes away

Rajahmundry(AP), Jan 21 (PTI) Former Union Minister SSatyanarayana Rao passed away this morning due to old agerelated ailments, family sources said. He was 90.

Rao, who was admitted to the Corporate hospital inHyderabad, breathed his last at 0700 hours, the sources said.

His body would be brought to his native villageKapileswarpuram in East Godavari district by evening, theysaid.

Rao was elected to the 13th Lok Sabha from Rajahmundryparliamentary constituency as a BJP candidate and served asUnion Minister of State for Agriculture from 1999-2004.

He was also a two-time MLC having been elected to theAndhra Pradesh House in 1958 and 1980.

Rao played a crucial role in setting up of manyeducational institutions and sugar factories in the state. Hewas particularly devoted to Vedic studies and promoted manyVedic schools.

Rao was the brother of Congress leader S Pattabhi RamaRao.