Former Sikkim Governor and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ventrapragada Rama Rao passed away in Hyderabad today following an illness. He was 81. <br/><br/>Rama Rao was one of the founders of Jana Sangh in Andhra Pradesh. He was also Andhra Pradesh BJP president during 1993 and 1997. Rama Rao served as the Sikkim Governor from 2002 to 2007. The last rites will be performed tomorrow in Hyderabad.