HYDERABAD: Former Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh Nadendla Bhaskar Rao passed away due to ill health on Wednesday at a private hospital in Hyderabad. He was 90.
Bhaskar Rao was among the founding members of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). His son Nandendla Manohar is currently a Minister in the Nara Chandrababu Naidu cabinet in AP.
The last rites of Bhaskar Rao will be performed on Thursday at Panjagutta in Hyderabad.
Bhaskar Rao served as Chief Minister for one month in 1984. He served as Minister in NTR, Marri Chenna Reddy and Anjaiah Cabinets. He was elected as an MP from Khammam Lok Sabha segment in 1998.
Bhaskar Rao was first elected as an MLA in 1978 and served as a Minister in Chenna Reddy's cabinet. In 1978, Bhaskar Rao contested from Vijayawada and won as a Congress MLA. In 1983, he contested from the Vemuru constituency in Guntur district on the TDP symbol and was elected as an MLA.
Later, Bhaskar Rao revolted against NTR and formed the government, which lasted only for one month. Bhaskar Rao along with his supporters in TDP and also with the support of the Congress pulled the NTR government in a coup, when NTR was away in the USA for treatment
After the political coup, Bhaskar Rao served as Chief Minister from August 16, 1984 to September 16, 1984. He was the Chief Minister for just 31 days, the shortest served Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh.
After his return from the USA, NTR started a nation wide agitation 'save the democracy' by wearing black clothes, and organised a statewide yatra in the name of 'Dharma Yuddham'. Finally, the Central government recalled the then Governor Thakur Ram Lal and reinstalled NTR as Chief Minister again.
After his resignation as Chief Minister Bhaskar Rao founded the Prajaswamya Telugu Desam Party in 1985, forged an alliance with the Congress and unsuccessfully contested as an MLA from Malakpet Assembly segment in Hyderabad.
Governor, Ministers condole demise of Bhaskara Rao
Condolences poured in from across Andhra Pradesh following the demise of former Chief Minister Nadendla Bhaskara Rao, who briefly served as the 11th Chief Minister of the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh in 1984, besides holding several key posts.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed grief and spoke to Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar, son of Bhaskara Rao, conveying his sympathies and praying for peace to the departed soul.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan recalled Bhaskara Rao’s long public life since the 1970s, his contributions as legislator from Vijayawada East and Vemuru, and as an MP from Khammam, describing him as a leader with deep legal and political knowledge. He extended condolences to Manohar and family.
Governor S Abdul Nazeer termed the death a profound loss, highlighting Bhaskara Rao’s services as a minister, a parliamentarian, and the Chief Minister, and conveyed his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family.
Ministers Nara Lokesh, Kandula Durgesh, DSBV Swamy, and Kolusu Parthasarathy also issued condolence messages, praising his administrative acumen, legislative expertise and the role in shaping Telugu politics.
Former CM and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy described Bhaskara Rao as a distinguished leader whose steadfast commitment to public service and vast political experience remain an inspiration, calling his demise an irreparable loss to the State.
Leaders across parties remembered Bhaskara Rao as a seasoned politician, mentor to many, and a guiding force in Andhra Pradesh’s political history.
