He served as the Member of Telangana Legislative Council (MLC) for Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Mahabubnagar Graduates' Constituency from 2015 to 2021.

For three consecutive years, he was elected President of the Students' Union (affiliated to Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, (ABVP)) while studying Bachelor of Arts at Railway Degree College.

Rao lost the 2009 election for Member of Legislative Council (MLC)[6] for the Graduates’ constituency for Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Mahabubnagar districts.

[7] In 2015, he won as Member of Legislative Council (MLC) from Mahabubnagar, Ranga Reddy, Hyderabad Graduates Constituency in Telangana as a BJP candidate.

[citation needed] Rao lost to Surabhi Vani Devi in 2021 Mahabubnagar-Rangareddy-Hyderabad Graduates’ constituency elections.