"Rao's life was dedicated to nationalist ideology. His political life began from Jan Sangh and he kept serving the BJP till the end. Rao's life is an irreparable loss in political sphere.
"I pray to God that his soul may rest in peace and his aggrieved family members get the strength," Shah said in a press statement.
Rao, who died at a private hospital there was 81 and is survived by wife and son. Rama Rao was born in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh in 1935.