Nadendla Bhaskara Rao - 1935-1973

Nadendla Bhaskara Rao is the Ex-Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. He holds the dubious distinction of serving the shortest term (31 days) as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. He wrote a book Naa Jeevitha Prasthanam (My Life Journey) about his life.

Nadendla Bhaskara Rao was born on 1935 June 23rd at Guntur. His parents are Pichchaiah and Venkayamma. His native place is Donepudi, near Tenali in Guntur district.

Before Formation of Andhra Pradesh

Potti Sreeramulu took fast-unto-death to form a separate state for telugu speaking people, and he died on 16th December 1952. Because of him, Nehru formed Andhra State on 1953 October 1st. Then, Telangana Chief Minister Burgula Rama Krishna Rao and many other leaders of Andhra State wanted to have Visalandhra (Single state for all telugu speaking people). Burgula Rama Krishna Rao was ready to sacrifice his Chief Minister post. After the efforts of many leaders, finally Andhra Pradesh was formed on 1956 November 1st. Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy became the first Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

At the time of death of Potti Sreeramulu, Nadendla was studying in school, and he was a school leader. He made all the students to boycott the college and exams. He also criticized Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy for not giving Rajya Sabha seat to Burgula Rama Krishna Rao. Had he given Rajya Sabha Seat, he would have become Home Minister in Nehru's cabinet. Because of that, he had to go to Kerala as a Governor.

1968-1973

In 1968, Telangana Agitation has increased and they started demanding for separate state to Telangana. At that time, Kasu Brahmananda Reddy was the Chief Minister of A.P. (Kasu Brahmananda Reddy was famous for expelling Indira Gandhi from Congress Party, and Indira Gandhi later formed Congress(I)). Many people died during that time because of Telangana agitation. Indira Gandhi had no other option other than removing Kasu Brahmananda Reddy. She made P.V.Narasimha Rao as the Chief Minister of A.P. Due to Mulki Rule, Coastal Andhra people started Pratyeka Andhra (Special Andhra) agitation, and Ministers are separated into two. (Mulki Rule says, all things being equal, the local person should get more preference).

Ministers Kakani Venkata Rathnam, B.V.Subba Reddy, P.Basi Reddy, Battina Subbarao etc., are on the side of Pratyeka Andhra. One day, Kakani Venkata Ratnam died suddenly at night 12'O Clock. Nadendla Bhaskar Rao came to know about it, and went to P.V.Narasimha Rao's house personally, and asked him to go to Vijayawada and pay homage to Kakani Venkata Ratnam. But, P.V.Narasimha Rao rejected that, and he did not even allow other ministers to go.

At that time, President of India was V.V.Giri. V.V.Giri told Indira Gandhi that, even if a minister dies, and if C.M. does not go, what can he do for the state, and forced Indira Gandhi to dismiss him and bring President's rule. Finally, P.V.Narasimha Rao was dismissed and President's Rule came. That was the only incident of President's Rule in the history of Andhra Pradesh/Andhra State/Hyderabad State.

From the book Naa Jeevitha Prasthanam (My Life Journey) by Nadendla Bhaskara Rao.