Former A.P. Minister Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu passes away

Former Minister and presently member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu (70) died of heart attack in Hyderabad in the wee hours of Wednesday.

Belonging to the Telugu Desam Party, Mr. Naidu had unsuccessfully contested last Assembly elections against actor-turned-politician Roja from Nagari constituency in Chittoor district.

Mr. Naidu was a college lecturer before joining politics. He served as Health Minister in Chandrababu Naidu government. On denial of party ticket by TDP in 2004, he switched over to Congress and won the election. But, his association with Congress lasted less than five years as he returned to TDP because of bitter rivalry with Congress Minister of Chittoor Chengalraya Nandu.

He also served as Education and Forest Minister in consecutive governments of N.T. Rama Rao and Chandrababu Naidu.

Andhra Pradesh Information Technology Minister, Nara Lokesh, condoled the death of Mr. Naidu, whose end was received with shock in TDP circles because it was only two days back that he addressed a media conference at the party office in Hyderabad.