A Fighter Throughout Life

BJP state general secretary and former endowments minister Pydikondala Manikyala Rao died after being infected with Covid-19 at a private hospital in Vijayawada, a couple of days ago. He also had lung infection and diabetes which deteriorated his health condition. Before death, he tested negative for Covid but other ailments proved fatal.

On July 3, after testing positive for Corona, he took to Twitter and posted a video saying there was nothing to worry even if one tested Covid-19 positive. Following Covid-19 protocols, patients can recover as the disease is not as dangerous as HIV. Later, he got admitted to a hospital in Vijayawada.

Following orders from the national BJP leaders, doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) monitored the treatment of Manikyala Rao from the moment he was put on a ventilator but their efforts proved futile. He is survived by his wife Surya Kumari, daughter Gattim Sindhu and son-in-law Naveen Kishore.

Manikyala Rao’s body was cremated with state honours in Tadepalligudem in the presence of his family members. BJP state president Somu Veerraju recalled that Pydikondala joined the BJP in 1981. Housing minister Cherukuwada Sriranganatha Raju said that he lost a very good friend with the death of Manikayala Rao. Tadepalligudem MLA Kottu Satyanarayana hailed Manikayala Rao as a dedicated and disciplined leader. Minister Alla Nani also expressed condolences to Pydikondala’s family.

Humble beginning

Manikyala Rao was the first child of Pydikondala Subba Rao and Ranganayakamma. He had two sisters also. Starting his life as a photographer, he set up Sarathi studio on KN Road in Tadepalligudem at Prabhata Talkies. After some time, he changed the name to Sindhu Studios, joining the name of his daughter. Later, he set up Sindhu Shoe Mart at the RTC bus depot in the same town.

Jai Andhra Movement

Getting attracted to the RSS ideology, he joined the Sangh activities. When he was studying in Class VII, he joined the Jai Andhra Movement. While in high school, he fought against the Emergency by going underground.

Being a member of BJP since its inception, he worked as town BJP general secretary and president. From 1998 to 2004, he worked as the BJP district unit general secretary and campaigned for the victory of Narsapuram MP Krishnam Raju.

However, he could not win as the councillor from the 13th ward in Sivalayam Street. In 2019, Pydikondala himself contested as the Narsapuram Lok Sabha MP. Though he was offered BJP state president post, he could not take it up because at the same time, his mother passed away.

Appointed as the Seemandhra Committee Movement vice president, he took all the issues relating to the Seemandhra people to the notice of the BJP leaders at the Centre. He organised medical camps in the name of an NGO, Manavata (Humanity) and also set up cold water camps in 30 mandals. He also got a Balaji temple constructed at Pedatadepalli in Tadepalligudem mandal. Pydikondala also took part in Ayodhya Karaseva. In 2014, he contested as Tadepalligudem MLA and won.

During the TDP regime, he worked as the endowments minister.

He always maintained cordial relations with the state and national BJP leaders. He had good relations with Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union home minister Amit Shah, BJP state in-charge G.V.L. Narasimha Rao, Kishan Reddy, Somu Veerraju. He also was close with a few BJP leaders in neighbouring Karnataka.

Spl efforts for NIT- Tadepalligudem

Pydikondala was instrumental in sanctioning of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) at Tadepalligudem after the bifurcation of the state in 2014. The TDP leaders created hurdles in the way but Pydikondala, using his political clout, got the institute granted to Tadepalligudem. As the endowments minister, he tried to build temples at several places in the state. The temples of Balusulamma, Mutyalamma, Nandikomma Ramalayam were built during his tenure.

The gray hair above a smiling face and the warmth in reception of guests, Manikyala Rao was poised and will be missed forever by his colleagues in political circles.