Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nadendla Bhaskar Rao Passes Away in Hyderabad

Nadendla Bhaskar Rao the former Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh has been passed away at the age of 90 in Hyderabad. He had been undergoing the treatment for the age-related illness at the private hospital. He is known for his long political career and he remains one of the most controversial figures in the South Indian politics because of the his role in the dramatic political events of 1984.

The 1984 ‘August Coup’ That Defined His Career

Bhaskar Rao is mostly remembered as the ‘August Coup’ of 1984 which is the major political crisis in Andhra Pradesh.

At that time he was serving as the Finance Minister in the government led by N. T. Rama Rao (NTR) the founder of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

While NTR was in the United States for the medical treatment Bhaskar Rao claimed majority support.

He was sworn in as the Chief Minister on August 16, 1984.

And this move has triggered massive political unrest across the state

NTR returned and launched the strong public campaign called ‘Dharma Yuddham’ and it demanding the restoration of democracy.

Within the 31 days the central government intervened and NTR was reinstated as the Chief Minister of the state on September 16, 1984.

His Tenure as Chief Minister

Bhaskar Rao’s tenure as the Chief Minister lasted only 31 days and making it one of the shortest in the Andhra Pradesh’s history.

Despite his decision making his term is widely discussed in the political studies due to the,

• Questions around the constitutional propriety
• The role of the Governor and central government
• The impact on federal politics and democratic norms

Early Life and Political Journey

He was born on June 23, 1935, in Guntur and he began his career as as lawyer before entering to politics.

• His political journey includes and he starts with the Indian National Congress. He also won from the Vijayawada East constituency in 1978.
• Also becoming the founding member of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1982.

After the 1984 crisis he later rejoined the Congress and continued his political career.

Later Career and Shift Across Parties

Bhaskar Rao remained active in politics for decades for longtime.

• He was elected as the Member of Parliament from Khammam in 1998.
• He later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2019.

His career also showcases the evolving political changes of the Andhra Pradesh and India.