[3] 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.
Later, during his period as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, an office to which he was appointed by Indira Gandhi[5] and held between 10 December 1973 and 6 March 1978,[6] Rao's hallmark was his administrative efficiency.
[7] 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.
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.
Jalagam Prasada Rao was a Member of the Legislative Assembly from Satthupalli constituency for two terms and he was a minister in N. Janardhan Reddy's cabinet.
[18][19] Jalagam Venkat Rao, is also a politician and as of 2009[update] was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh, representing the INC for the same constituency, Satthupalli, as his father.