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{{Short description|Indian politician (1922-1999)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}{{Distinguish|Vengalrao Gottimukula|Vengal Rao}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jalagam Vengala Rao
| image = Jalagam Vengala Rao.jpg
| office1 = 5th [[List of chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh|Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh]]
| term_start1 = 10 December 1973
| term_end1 = 6 March 1978
| predecessor1 = [[President's rule]]<br/>[[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]
| successor1 = [[Marri Chenna Reddy]]
| office2 = [[Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)|Minister of Commerce and Industry (Government of India)]]
| primeminister2 = [[Rajiv Gandhi]]
| predecessor2 = [[N. D. Tiwari]]
| successor2 = [[Ajit Singh (politician, born 1939)|Ajit Singh]]
| term_start2 = 22 October 1986
| term_end2 = 2 December 1989
| office3 = Home Minister, [[Government of Andhra Pradesh]]
| term_start3 = 18 July 1969
| term_end3 = 30 September 1971
| 3blankname3 = Chief Minister
| 3namedata3 = [[Kasu Brahmananda Reddy]]
| office4 = Industries Minister, [[Government of Andhra Pradesh]]
| term_start4 = 20 March 1972
| term_end4 = 10 January 1973
| 4blankname4 = Chief Minister
| 4namedata4 = [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]]
| office5 = [[Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee|President of Pradesh Congress Committee]]
| term_start5 = January 30, 1985
| term_end5 = October 30, 1988
| constituency6 = [[Khammam (Lok Sabha constituency)|Khammam]]
| office6 = [[Member of Parliament]], [[Lok Sabha]]
| term_start6 = 1984
| term_end6 = 1991
| predecessor6 = [[Jalagam Kondala Rao]]
| successor6 = [[P. V. Rangaiah Naidu]]
| office7 = Member of [[Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly]]
| term_start7 = 1978
| term_end7 = 1983
| constituency7 = [[Sathupalli]], [[Telangana]]
| term_start8 = 1962
| term_end8 = 1978
| constituency8 = [[Vemsoor]], [[Telangana]]
| birth_date = May 1921
| birth_place = [[Srikakulam District|Soperu]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]]
| death_date = 12 June 1999 (aged 78)
| death_place = [[Hyderabad]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], India
| children = [[Jalagam Prasada Rao]],<br>[[Jalagam Venkat Rao]]
}}
'''Jalagam Vengala Rao''' (4 May 1922<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jalagam Vengala Rao|url=https://www.veethi.com/india-people/jalagam_vengala_rao-profile-11381-19.htm|access-date=2021-04-19|website=veethi.com}}</ref> – 12 June 1999) was for much of his life a member of the [[Indian National Congress]] and was the [[List of Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh|Chief Minister]] of the [[India]]n state of [[Andhra Pradesh]] which is now divided into two states, [[Telangana]] and [[Andhra Pradesh]].

==Early life==
Vengala Rao hailed from Padmanayaka Velama community<ref>{{Cite news |last=బళ్ల సతీశ్ |date=8 April 2019 |title=తెలుగునాట కుల రాజకీయాలు: ఆ రెండు కులాల మధ్యే ప్రధాన పోటీ |language=te |work=BBC News తెలుగు |url=https://www.bbc.com/telugu/india-47843334 |access-date=2023-05-01}}</ref> of Bayyannagudem in [[Khammam district]] (currently part of the [[Telangana]] state).<ref>{{cite news |last=Bhaskar |first=B. V. S. |date=7 September 2002 |title=Sathupally to be model assembly constituency |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Sattupalli-to-be-model-assembly-constituency/articleshow/21399857.cms |url-status=live |access-date=2012-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017080644/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-09-07/hyderabad/27309414_1_irrigation-projects-drinking-water-roads |archive-date=17 October 2012}}</ref>

==Career==
His involvement in politics began when he was in his twenties, when he supported Congress in their campaign of armed defiance against the [[Nizam of Hyderabad]]. He was jailed for his involvement in this campaign, which was protesting the tenancy laws operating in the Telangana region. He tried and failed to be elected as an independent candidate in 1952 and the period from 1952 to that time saw him occupying the post of president for the Khammam district branch of Congress and being the first chairman of the district council. The first of his successful Assembly elections was in 1962, Rao subsequently was elected on four occasions to the [[Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh]], where he represented the [[Sathupalli]] constituency of Khammam district.

===Lok Sabha===
He was also twice (1984, 1989)elected to the [[Lok Sabha]] - the [[lower house]] of the [[Parliament of India]] - as a representative of the [[Khammam (Lok Sabha constituency)|Khammam district constituency]]. <ref name=rediff19990612 />

===As Home Minister===
In 1968, he became State Home Minister in the state government headed by [[Kasu Brahmananda Reddy]]. Later, during his period as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, an office to which he was appointed by [[Indira Gandhi]]<ref>{{cite book |title=State politics in India: reflections on Andhra Pradesh |first=Agarala Easwara |last=Reddi |publisher=M.D. Publications |year=1994 |isbn=9788185880518 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vaxxeoPUuqsC |page=25 |accessdate=2012-03-27}}</ref> and held between 10 December 1973 and 6 March 1978,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.ap.gov.in/Government/Lists/Chief%20Ministers/DispForm.aspx?ID=15 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121218155559/http://www.portal.ap.gov.in/Government/Lists/Chief%20Ministers/DispForm.aspx?ID=15 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-12-18 |title=Chief Ministers: Sri. Jalagam Vengala Rao |publisher=Government of Andhra Pradesh |accessdate=2012-03-27 }}</ref> Rao's hallmark was his administrative efficiency.<ref name=rediff19990612 /> He is also known for his handling and containment of [[Naxalite]] insurgency, which took place during a revival of the [[Telangana movement]] that sought independent statehood.<ref name=DNA20091211 /> He almost wiped out Naxalism from the state through extrajudicial [[Encounter killing|encounter killings]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|author=Amarnath K. Menon |date=January 21, 2014 |title=Change in government in Andhra Pradesh brings fears of Emergency-type repression of Naxalite movement|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19810131-change-in-government-in-andhra-pradesh-brings-fears-of-emergency-type-repression-of-naxalite-movement-805896-2014-01-21|access-date=2021-04-19|magazine=India Today|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-12-07|title=Telangana And Andhra Pradesh Have A Long History Of Encounter Killings|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/telangana-and-andhra-pradesh-have-a-long-history-of-encounter-killings_in_5deb5d4fe4b0913e6f90280d|access-date=2021-04-19|website=HuffPost|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Venugopal|first=N.|date=2007|title=Fake Encounters: Story from Andhra Pradesh|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40276541|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|volume=42|issue=41|pages=4106–4111|jstor=40276541|issn=0012-9976}}</ref> Later, the Vimadalal commission was appointed to probe into attacks on Naxalites during his period in office<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Dwivedi|first1=O.P.|last2=Jain|first2=R.B.|date=1988-07-01|title=Bureaucratic Morality in India|url=https://doi.org/10.1177/019251218800900305|journal=International Political Science Review|language=en|volume=9|issue=3|pages=205–214|doi=10.1177/019251218800900305|s2cid=144127879|issn=0192-5121|url-access=subscription}}</ref> and his earlier actions against Communist-inspired Naxalites during the 1960s have been referred to as a "reign of terror".<ref name=DNA20091211>{{cite news |title=Telangana Part II |date=11 December 2009 |first=Mohan |last=Guruswamy |publisher=DNA |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/main-article_telangana-part-ii_1322389 |accessdate=2012-03-27}}</ref> The official website for the government of Andhra Pradesh refers to his tenure, which came about following a period of [[President's rule]], politically stable.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.ap.gov.in/Pages/PostIndependenceEra.aspx |title=Post-Independence Era : Struggle for Andhra State |publisher=Government of Andhra Pradesh |accessdate=2012-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321182709/http://www.portal.ap.gov.in/Pages/PostIndependenceEra.aspx |archive-date=21 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Despite that popularity, he was unable to retain power in the 1978 elections.<ref>{{cite news |title=Naidu becomes fourth AP CM to return his party to power |url=http://www.rediff.com/election/1999/oct/07naidu.htm |date=7 October 1999 |work=Rediff.com |accessdate=2012-03-27}}</ref>

===Congress split===
When Congress split during the mid-1970s, Rao initially did not join with the faction led by [[Indira Gandhi]] that was referred to as Congress (I). However, he did join in 1984 and with his election to the Lok Sabha in that year he served in the cabinet of [[Rajiv Gandhi]], holding the post of Union Minister for Industry until 1989. For much of this period, between 1984 and 1988, he was also president of the state organization of his political party, being the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee.<ref name=rediff19990612 />

===As Chief Minister===
He was the 5th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 10 December 1973 – 5 March 1978. It was during his tenure as Chief Minister that three universities namely [[Kakatiya University]], [[Acharya Nagarjuna University]] and [[Sri Krishnadevaraya University]] were started, catering for three regions of Andhra Pradesh: [[Telangana]], [[Coastal Andhra]], and [[Rayalaseema]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=About University|url=http://skuniversity.ac.in/about-university.html|access-date=2021-04-19|website=skuniversity.ac.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Acharya Nagarjuna University|url=https://www.nagarjunauniversity.ac.in/profile.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426121122/http://www.nagarjunauniversity.ac.in/profile.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 April 2014|access-date=2021-04-19|website=www.nagarjunauniversity.ac.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Kakatiya University, Warangal-506009, Telangana, India.|url=https://kakatiya.ac.in/university-profile|access-date=2021-04-19|website=kakatiya.ac.in}}</ref> Rao initiated a World [[Telugu people|Telugu]] Conference in [[Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh|Hyderabad]] in 1975.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1812/18120450.htm |title=Bitter memories |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122051815/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1812/18120450.htm |archivedate=2010-01-22 |first=R.J. Rajendra |last=Prasad |date=22 June 2001 |volume=18 |issue=12 |publisher=Frontline |url-status=usurped |accessdate=2012-03-27}}</ref>

In 1972, the Vengala Rao government added the Koppula and Polinati Velama communities to the BC-D category from OC(forward caste) to address drought economic hardship and regional backwardness in Uttarandhra specially in srikakulam.The move was prompted by drought conditions, regional backwardness not caste Backwardness in Uttarandhra, and to support the community's demand for social representation and to support educationally and economically .Lakhs of People got hired into State and central government jobs due to this.

==Death==
Jalagam Vengal Rao died on 12 June 1999.<ref name=rediff19990612>{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/jun/12ap1.htm |title=Andhra ex-CM Vengala Rao dies at 78 |date=12 June 1999 |work=Rediff.com |agency=UNI |accessdate=2012-03-27}}</ref>

==Family==
He has two sons, [[Jalagam Prasada Rao]] and [[Jalagam Venkat Rao]]. [[Jalagam Prasada Rao]] was a Member of the Legislative Assembly from Satthupalli constituency for two terms and he was a minister in [[N. Janardhana Reddy|N. Janardhan Reddy]]'s cabinet. He held the portfolios of Small scale industries and Panchayat Raj.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tummala Nageswara Rao in for a grim battle |date=9 April 2009|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/04/09/stories/2004040904150400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040505215843/http://www.hindu.com/2004/04/09/stories/2004040904150400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 May 2004|work=[[The Hindu]] |accessdate=2012-09-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Jalagam to join hands with Jagan |date=8 June 2011 |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-08/hyderabad/29633257_1_ysr-congress-y-s-jaganmohan-reddy-khammam-assembly-seat |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103065316/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-08/hyderabad/29633257_1_ysr-congress-y-s-jaganmohan-reddy-khammam-assembly-seat |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |accessdate=2012-09-27}}</ref> [[Jalagam Venkat Rao]], is also a politician and {{As of|2004|lc=on}} was a [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of the Legislative Assembly]] of Andhra Pradesh, representing the INC for the same constituency, [[Sathupalli|Satthupalli]], as his father.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jalagam Vengala Rao remembered |date=6 May 2009 |url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/06/stories/2009050652240300.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125132947/http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/06/stories/2009050652240300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 January 2013 |work=[[The Hindu]] |accessdate=2012-03-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portal.ap.gov.in/Government/Lists/MLAs_1/DispForm.aspx?ID=277 |title=MLAs |publisher=Government of Andhra Pradesh |accessdate=2012-03-27 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121218162237/http://www.portal.ap.gov.in/Government/Lists/MLAs_1/DispForm.aspx?ID=277 |archive-date=18 December 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Commemoration==
Rao wrote an autobiography in the [[Telugu language]], called ''Naa Jeevitha Katha''. The contents caused some controversy with regard to the lives of other politicians.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?202077 |title=Skeletons In The Closet: Erstwhile Andhra Pradesh chief minister Vengala Rao's memoirs rake up Narasimha Rao's past |first=S. |last=Sivanand |date=11 September 1996 |publisher=Outlook |accessdate=2012-03-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=The Times of India |title=Hey Ram! |agency=TNN |date=25 March 2001 |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/special-report/Hey-Ram/articleshow/35350474.cms |accessdate=2012-03-27}}</ref> A part of it was published in English translation by ''[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?202078 |title='Pv's Affair Upset Indira': Extracts from Jalagam Vengala Rao's autobiography |date=11 September 1996 |publisher=Outlook |accessdate=2012-03-27}}</ref>

A park in [[Banjara Hills]], [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]] was named after him as [[Jalagam Vengal Rao Park]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/05/stories/2008050555240600.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508172842/http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/05/stories/2008050555240600.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 May 2008 |title=Birth anniversary of Jalagam celebrated |date=5 May 2008 |work=[[The Hindu]] |accessdate=2012-03-27}}</ref> There is also an upscale residential neighborhood named after him – ''Vengal Rao Nagar'' - and several educational institutions.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |title=Sri Jalagam Vengal Rao: a political study |first=G. |last=Ravichandrababu |publisher=Anna Centre for Public Affairs, University of Madras |year=1995}}
*{{cite book |title=Report: Vimadalal Commission of Inquiry |first=Jal Rustamji |last=Vimadalal |publisher=The Vimadalal Commission |year=1978 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ILQeIgAACAAJ}}

{{Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh}}
{{Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India)}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rao, Jalagam Vengal}}
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:India MPs 1984–1989]]
[[Category:India MPs 1989–1991]]
[[Category:1999 deaths]]
[[Category:Chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:1921 births]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Chief ministers from Indian National Congress]]
[[Category:People from Khammam district]]
[[Category:Commerce and industry ministers of India]]
[[Category:Andhra Pradesh MLAs 1962–1967]]
[[Category:Andhra Pradesh MLAs 1967–1972]]
[[Category:Presidents of Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee]]

Jalagam Vengala Rao - Revision history

GiseleStead at 19:59, 9 March 2026