Tributes pour in as actor and ex-MLA Kota Srinivasa Rao passes away
passed away in Hyderabad on Sunday. He was 83 and is survived by wife and two daughters. He represented Vijayawada assembly constituency as BJP MLA.
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People in Vijayawada mourned the death of Srinivasa Rao, who was MLA between 1999 and 2004.
He breathed his last at his residence in Filmnagar, Hyderabad, in the early hours of Sunday after battling illness for several days.
Kota Srinivasa Rao, a versatile actor and influential figure in Telugu cinema and politics, shared a deep and emotional bond with the city of Vijayawada. Born on July 10, 1942, at Kankipadu in Vijayawada, he spent his formative years in and around the city, which remained close to his heart throughout his life.
He often said that every time he visited Vijayawada, it felt like coming home.
Kota made his film debut in 1978 with Pranam Khareedhu, and over the decades, he became a beloved figure in Indian cinema, known for his powerful performances in both villainous and comedic roles. Beyond acting, he also had a significant political stint — he served as a BJP MLA from Vijayawada East constituency between 1999 and 2004.
During his tenure as MLA, Kota focused on improving infrastructure at schools and junior colleges.
He also focused on improving drainage and cement road connectivity in the Satyanarayana Puram and Gandhi Nagar areas of the city.
His passing has triggered an outpouring of grief across Andhra Pradesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AP chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, and HRD and IT minister Nara Lokesh extended heartfelt condolences to his family and fans. Tributes have been pouring in from across the political and film fraternities, remembering him as a man of remarkable talent and character.
The BJP city unit mourned the death of Kota Srinivasa Rao at the office and remembered his services to the party and Vijayawada city.
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