Jalagam Vengala Rao

Jalagam Vengala Rao Biography

Jalagam Vengala Rao was a politician from undivided Andhra Pradesh who served as the 5th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. He served the term during 10 December 1973 – 6 March 1978, preceded by President's rule. Rao represented Indian National Congress throughout his political career. He was also a parliamentarian who got elected twice to Lok Sabha. He lived during the period, May 1921 – 12 June 1999. He has two sons - Jalagam Prasada Rao and Jalagam Venkat Rao, who are active in state politics. Jalagam Prasada Rao is a former minister while his second son Jalagam Venkat Rao currently holds the position of Parliamentary Secretary, and has served as MLA twice representing INC.

His name is also addressed as Jalagam Vengal Rao. He was born in May 1921 in Bayyannagudem of Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh. The place now belongs to Telangana. He got active in politics during his early 20s, and remained a lifetime member of Indian National Congress. He was involved in the campaign against Nizam of Hyderabad, marking his beginning in politics. He got jailed also. He unsuccessfully contested as an independent candidate in 1952 for state assembly elections, but later got selected for 4 times from Sathupalli constituency of Khammam district. He also served two terms in Lok Sabha.

In 1968, he became State Home Minister under the government by Kasu Brahmananda Reddy. Following the President's rule in Andhra Pradesh in the mid-1970s, he was appointed as the Chief Minister of the state by none other than Indira Gandhi, who was serving as India’s PM then. Rao ruled the state during 10 December 1973 – 6 March 1978, a term of almost 5 years. When Congress split during the mid-1970s, he didn’t join Congress (I) during its premature years. But later he joined the party when Rajiv Gandhi came into power, following assassination of Indira Gandhi.

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Updated: July 15, 2018