| Birthname: | Kotagiri Vidyadhara Rao |
| Birth Date: | 1946 |
| Birth Place: | Eluru, Eluru district, India |
| Death Date: | 20 July 2013 (aged 66) |
| Party: | INC |
| Nationality: | Indian |
Kotagiri Vidhyadher Rao (April 28 1946 - 20 July 2013) was an Indian politician and a MLA and Minister. He was a five time MLA from Eluru district, Andhra Pradesh. He was in TDP, PRP (which joined Congress).[1]
He was born at Thurpu Edavalli village in the Kamavarapukota Mandal, Eluru District, Andhra Pradesh.
Kotagiri Vidyadhara Rao began his political career as a village sarpanch. He served as MLA from the Chintalapudi assembly constituency for five terms and served as a Minister of the State in both N T Rama Rao and Chandrababu Naidu cabinets. He joined Praja Rajyam in 2009 and was political affairs committee member.[2] [3] He was a key aide to actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi.
He served in the following positions:
1978: Chairman - Agricultural Market Committee, Chintalapudi
1981: Vice President - Panchayat Samithi, Chintalapudi
1983: MLA, Chintalapudi - elected as an Independent, later joined Telugu Desam Party in Oct. 1983
1985 - 1999: Re-elected as MLA, Chintalapudi
1984: Chairman - AP Industries Infrastructure Corp.
1985: Director - AP Industries Development Corp., Director- AP Kadhi & Village Industries Board
1987: Director - AP State Road Transport Corp., Chairman Shatavahana Region, APSRTC
1987 - 1989: Chairman Public Undertakings Committee, AP Legislature
1989: Deputy Leader of Opposition
1991 - 1994: Leading the Opposition after Shri NT Rama Rao announced that he would not attend Assembly for the ill treatment, extended by the Govt. on the Floor of the House
1994: Appointed Minister for Agriculture (N. T. Rama Rao cabinet)
1995 - 1996: Appointed Minister for Panchayat Raj Rural Development & Rural Water Supply (N. T. Rama Rao cabinet)
1996 - 1999: Minister for Agriculture (N. Chandrababu Naidu cabinet)
1999 - 2004: Minister for Large scale Industries (N. Chandrababu Naidu cabinet)
He died in his home in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh from a cardiac arrest on 20 July 2013.
Vidhyadher Rao was married, had a son (Sridhar Kotagiri) and a daughter (Anitha Ponnala) and four grandchildren. [4] His Son Representing From Eluru Parliament (2019-2024)