Rich tributes paid to Kodela in Krishna

Vijayawada: The followers of former Speaker Kodela Siva Prasad Rao and TDP workers paid rich tributes to his body at Garikipadu checkpost near Jagaiahpet in Krishna district. A large number of party sympathisers' from the two districts Krishna and Guntur reached there on Tuesday morning and joined the procession which came from Hyderabad along with Kodela's body.

MP Kesineni Srinivas, MLA Gadde Rammohan, MLCs B Arjunudu, Budda Venkanna, former MLAs T Soumya, T Sriram Rajagopal, Bonda Uma, and several senior leaders paid tributes to him.

A huge gathering was also present at road margins at Jaggaiahpet, Nandigama, Ibrahimpatnam, Gollapudi, Mangalagiri and Pedakakani and Guntur. TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu also followed the procession with his convoy along with Kodela body.

He walked a few minutes at Gollapudi village, where the huge number of people reached the National Highway to pay tributes to the late leader. The TDP leaders raised slogans against the YSRCP government in the state and displayed placards of Kodela with his pictures.

Kodela's role in Vijayawada development

Former Speaker and senior TDP leader Kodela Siva Prasad Rao played an important role in Vijayawada city politics also. He equipped government hospital with all modern facilities when he was the cabinet minister. He also designed a plan for the present new government hospital equipping it with all modern facilities.

He faced allegations for his involvement in the city-based political issues. Kodela resigned from Home Minister's post in 1989 taking responsibility for the violence after the death of Vangaveeti Mohan Ranga's murder. He conducted Women's Parliament, a big event in his career on the outskirts of city.

Even Kodela Siva Prasad's name is popular in Palnadu politics, he had some close political connections with the leaders of Krishna district and Vijayawada city also. He used to visit the city and spending times with his friends and relatives.