Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Amaravati Farmer Leader Dhanekula Rama Rao Dies, Leaders Mourn
Dhanekula Rama Rao was a farmer leader from the Amaravati area.
He died on Tuesday morning in his native village of Nelapadu.
He was a member of the Amaravati Joint Action Committee.
The group supported keeping Amaravati as the state capital.
Officials said Rama Rao helped lead protests and faced legal cases.
N. Lokesh said he spent 40 days in jail during the earlier government’s tenure.
Rama Rao also took part in a court case against the three-capital proposal.
Leaders and farmers expressed sadness after his death.
Amaravati JAC member and farmer leader Dhanekula Rama Rao died Tuesday morning in Nelapadu village.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu recalled Rama Rao’s role in the Amaravati agitation.
N. Lokesh said Rama Rao spent 40 days in jail during the previous YSRC government’s tenure.
P. Narayana said Rama Rao was among the first farmers to surrender land under capital land pooling.
Rama Rao also challenged the three-capital proposal in the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
- Who
- Dhanekula Rama Rao, an Amaravati JAC member and farmer leader, died; state leaders and capital-region farmers mourned him.
- What
- Rama Rao’s death was reported, along with tributes recalling his role in the Amaravati movement and related legal battle.
- When
- Tuesday morning.
- Where
- His native Nelapadu village in Amaravati, in Guntur district.
- Why
- Officials attributed his significance to his leadership of the Amaravati agitation, participation in land pooling, imprisonment and legal challenge to the three-capital proposal.
- Deceased
- Dhanekula Rama Rao
- Role
- Amaravati Joint Action Committee member and farmer leader
- Location of death
- Nelapadu village, Amaravati, Guntur district
- Prison term recalled
- 40 days during the previous YSRC government’s tenure
- Movement slogan
- “One state, one capital — Amaravati”
- Legal action
- Challenged the three-capital proposal in the Andhra Pradesh High Court
- Land pooling
- Was among the first farmers to part with his land for the capital process