Former chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh Nadendla Bhaskar Rao. (Wikimedia Commons)

4 min read Hyderabad Apr 24, 2026 01:23 PM IST First published on: Apr 24, 2026 at 01:21 PM IST

Former chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, Nadendla Bhaskar Rao, who died at the age of 90 in Hyderabad Wednesday, had been one of the most controversial political figures in state politics.

A humble and straightforward leader in the beginning of his political career, Rao became a mentor for popular actor N T Rama Rao or NTR when he was still learning the ropes of politics, and eventually helped NTR found the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). However, his subsequent transformation for grabbing power made him a controversial figure and shocked many.…