Impressed by the work of visionary leader and the then Chief Minister of United Andhra Pradesh, Nara Chandrababu Naidu, Raghava Rao participated in the Janmabhoomi Program during the late 1990s and constructed 30 houses along with amenities (called as Sidda Colony) for the poor. He also contributed to laying roads in Chimakurthy and began to make a name for himself for his generosity. His work caught the attention of Nara Chandrababu Naidu who invited him to join the Telugu Desam party (TDP) and serve the people in official capacity. Raghava Rao joined the party in 1999, and hence began his political career.
Owing to his active work in the party and unflinching loyalty, Raghava Rao began to be recognized as a reliable leader who would go a long distance in politics. His constant work was awarded with Vice Presidentship of Telugu Desam party in 2006 and chosen as Trust Board Chairman for Srisailam Devasthanam. He was elected as a Member of Legislative Council in the same year – his first post as a public representative. In 2011, he was appointed as a Polit Bureau Member of TDP – the decision making executive body of the party.
Raghava Rao’s proactive service on behalf of the party when calamities and mishaps struck AP was widely commended. He played an active role in the “Samaikyandhra” (United Andhra) movement, organizing demonstrations along with party men and donating essential commodities to RTC employees who carried out mass agitations. In the year 2012, Raghava Rao was made the in-charge of Darsi assembly constituency which he has nurtured since. He continued his philanthropic work in Darsi including feeding poor students studying in Government junior college. He is much respected for mobilizing six tankers daily to provide safe drinking water to local residents of Darsi and for digging 270 borewells at a cost of Rs. 80 lakhs – all at his own expenses. He continues to spend more than Rs. 1.5 crore every year for social service activities in the region.
He is an acting member for Srisailam, Shirdi and Tirupathi, Arya Vysya Community’s Choultries (rest houses).