Tearful farewell to Kodela in Narasaraopet
Narasaraopet: Tearful farewell was given to former speaker of Andhra Pradesh Assembly, Dr Kodela Siva Prasada Rao, popularly known as people's man, one rupee doctor and Palnadu Tiger at the Swargapuri on Wednesday evening.
Kodela's son Kodela Sivaram lit the pyre and performed the rituals as per the traditions amidst party leaders, workers and the most importantly his fans. The family members of Kodela rejected the funeral with state honours proposed by the state government alleging that he died because of government harassment.
The funeral was held at Swargapuri 1, which was developed by Kodela. Swargapuri now resembles a beautiful park rather than crematorium and has all modern facilities to perform the last rites.
Former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Nara Lokesh, former ministers Pratipati Pulla Rao, K Atchannaidu, senior leaders Karanam Balaram, Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary, MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna and scores of TDP leaders, thousands of party workers and supporters joined the three-and-a-half-kilometre rally. Naidu and other leaders led the rally by foot to Swargapuri.
Emotional scenes were witnessed when the body reached Swargapuri from his residence as his fans raised slogans Palnadu Puli, Palnadu Tiger.
The six-time MLA, former speaker, former minister and one of the most powerful man in the Palnadu area committed suicide in Hyderabad on September 16. His body was brought to Narasaraopet for the funeral. His followers and fans could not believe the fact that he is no more.
The body was brought to the crematorium in a special vehicle decorated with flowers. During the procession, thousands of people showered flowers and paid tributes to the departed leader, who has strong association with the people of Narasaraopet for over four decades.
The police erected barricades to check free flow of vehicles. But, pedestrians were allowed to walk on the main roads of the town and reach Kodela's residence. The police had a difficult time to control the emotional crowd near the Swargapuri.
The procession was marked by emotional scenes and slogans of the TDP cadre, who wore the traditional yellow colour shirts. Hundreds of women and children stood on the rooftops of their homes to watch the funeral procession pass by and recollected their association with the Doctor.