Although BJP Andhra Pradesh has not been as successful as it wanted to be, it has been playing a very strong role in the politics of Andhra Pradesh for a long time now. There have also been a few members who have always stuck to BJP, no matter what, and today, BJP lost one of them.
Former MLA, and long time BJP loyalist, Padikondala Manikyala Rao has sadly passed away today, after having tested positive for Coronavirus in the last month. He was receiving treatment at the Eluru Covid hospital, but was later shifted to a private hospital in Vijayawada, after he was having problems with breathing properly.
For nearly 20 days now, Manikyala Rao was receiving treatment while on ventilator, and has passed away today. He is survived by his wife Suryakumari, and daughter Sindhu. Manikyala Rao is just 59, and it is sad to lose someone like that at such a young age.
Manikyala Rao is from Thadepalli Gudem, and did his schooling there itself. When he was just 9 years old, he joined Rashrtriya Swayam Sevak (RSS), and later got into BJP, as soon as it was started, and stuck with it ever since. Manikyala Rao used to be a photographer, with a photo studio. He later closed it, and started Sindhu Shoe Mart. Later on, he started to sell spare parts for Automobiles, under the name of Sindhu Enterprises.
From 2014 to 2018, Manikyala Rao served as an MLA under the TDP government, when TDP and BJP were on friendly terms. Manikyala Rao was also given the responsibility of the Endowments department during his term as an MLA.