Senior Journalist Adiraju Venkateshwar Rao no more

 Senior journalist Adiraju Venkateshwar Rao breathed his last on Thursday night at his house Vijayanagar colony in Hyderabad after fighting a long battle of ailments. Known as Adiraju by the journalistic fraternity, he wrote several books and was considered an authority on national politics after a prolonged stint in Delhi.

A native of Panditapuram village from Khammam district, he played a key role in the first phase of Separate Telangana agitation in 1969. He was even jailed during the peak of the movement.

The Telangana government recently honoured him on the State formation day in recognition of his services to the cause statehood.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Friday paid tribute to Adiraju, recalling his contribution to cause of Telangana Statehood and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family.

Adiraju is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.