Telangana, Andhra CMs pay last respects to Venkatswamy

The chief ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and leaders of various political parties from both the states Tuesday paid their last respects to veteran Congress leader and former union minister G. Venkatswamy, who died Monday evening after prolonged illness.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N. Chandrababu Naidu paid homage to the leader at his residence in Somajiguda here.

Both the leaders laid wreaths on the mortal remains of Venkatswamy and consoled his sons G. Vinod, G. Vivekanand and other family members.

Several ministers from both the states, including YSR Congress party chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, Rajya Sabha member K. Chiranjeevi, and other leaders of the Congress party from both the states paid tribute to 'Kaka' as Venkatswamy was popularly known as.

The veteran leader was 85. He had served as a minister in the cabinets of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and P.V. Narasimha Rao.

The Dalit leader was elected to the Lok Sabha for seven terms and was also a member of the Congress Working Committee.

The last rites of Venkatswamy will be performed later in the day with state honours.