Former Andhra Pradesh Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Devineni 'Nehru' Rajasekhar died of cardiac arrest on Monday. He was 65.
A key figure in Vijayawada politics, he suffered a cardiac arrest at his house in Hyderabad. He is survived by a son and a daughter.
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.
Popular as Nehru among his followers, he had joined TDP when it was floated by thespian NT 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 NT Rama Rao's cabinet from 1994 to 1996. When N Chandrababu Naidu led a revolt against NT Rama Rao, Nehru was one of the few leaders to remain loyal to the party founder.
He later joined Congress party but lost the 1999 election. He was 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.
Nehru's family had a long-running feud with their political rival Vangaveeti Ranga.
Ranga, a leader of Congress party and belonging to the Kapu community, was murdered in 1988 when he was on hunger strike, sparking unprecedented violence in Vijayawada and other parts of Krishna district as well as neighbouring districts.
More than 40 people were killed and properties worth several crore rupees were destroyed in the violence.
The violence abated after then Chief Minister NT Rama Rao made Nehru resign and surrender.
In 2002, a court acquitted all 33 accused including Nehru in the Ranga's murder case.
A Telugu movie Vangaveeti on the feud between two families and produced by controversial filmmaker Ramgopal Verma was recently released.
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 a loss to the party.
Many also took to social media, to express their condolences.
Deeply saddened to learn about the demise of a great leader, Devineni Nehru. My condolences to his family & followers for such a great loss.
— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) April 17, 2017
Shocked and saddened to learn about the demise of Devineni Nehru gaaru. My condolences to his family & followers in this difficult time.
— Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) April 17, 2017
RIP #DevineniNehru - you have been a towering personality for a long time in #Vijayawada politics. Condolences to his family and friends.
— M.Krishna Kiran (@mkrishnakiran) April 17, 2017
RIP #DevineniNehru
— TFI commentator (@TFIpremikudu) April 17, 2017
End of an era in vijayawada politics.
#DevineniNehru's rare pic with #ParitalaRavi & @themohanbabu during #SriRamulayya shooting pic.twitter.com/sHGyscQtNS
— PremChand (@premchandsayz) April 17, 2017
One of the Rarest pic #DevineniNehru with Anna Garu #NTR pic.twitter.com/HhZVvrDT0U
— Vamsi Shekar PRO (@UrsVamsiShekar) April 17, 2017