Former Andhra minister Devineni Nehru dies of cardiac arrest

Popular as Nehru among his followers, he was a senior leader and played key role in Congress as well as TDP during his political stint in Krishna district.

Hyderabad/Vijayawada, April 17: Six time MLA and TDP leader Devineni Nehru passed away at a private corporate hospital in Hyderabad in the early hours on Monday. He was admitted to the hospital last week and was undergoing treatment.

Nehru, whose real name was Devineni Rajasekhar, was suffering from kidney related ailments and was discharged from a hospital in Hyderabad a few days ago.

His body was shifted to Vijayawada, where last rites will be performed on Tuesday. He is survived by a son and a daughter.

On hearing the tragic incident, followers and relatives of Nehru rushed to Hyderabad. Body will be shifted to Vijawayada to perform final rights.

Nehru had joined TDP when it was floated by thespian N.T. Rama Rao in early 1982. He was elected to Andhra Pradesh assembly from Kankipadu in 1983 and retained the seat in 1985, 1989 and 1994.

Nehru served as the minister in N.T. Rama Rao's cabinet from 1994 to 1996. When N. Chandrababu Naidu led a revolt against N.T. Rama Rao, Nehru was one of the few leaders to remain loyal to the party founder.

He later joined Congress party but lost 1999 election. He, however, was again elected to the assembly in 2004 but suffered defeats in 2009 and 2014. Last year, he joined re-joined TDP along with his son Avinash.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP President N. Chandrababu Naidu condoled the death of Nehru and termed it as a personal loss to him and also to the party.

IANS