TDP leader Nandamuri Harikrishna's funeral will be performed later in the day in Hyderabad.
Hyderabad: Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, top politicians of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and Telugu film personalities today paid their last respects to TDP founder NTR's son Nandamuri Harikrishna, who died in a road accident yesterday.
Sixty-one-year-old Harikrishna sustained critical head injuries, when the SUV, which he was driving, overturned while negotiating a turn in Telangana's Nalgonda district.
Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu placed a wreath on the body of Harikrishna, at his residence in Mehdipatnam area. He consoled the family members including his actor sons Junior NTR and Kalyan Ram. In an interview, Mr Naidu recalled the services of the actor-politician in films and politics. He described Harikrishna as an obedient son who gave strength to his father NT Rama Rao.
Mr Naidu said Harikrishna was an affable person and used to speak in a free and frank manner. He recalled that in the Rajya Sabha he insisted that he should be allowed to speak in Telugu and when the then deputy chairman said the rules don't permit it, Harikrishna intervened by offering to translate the speech in English.
Ministers, lawmakers, leaders of various political parties and film personalities and Harikrishna's fans made a beeline at his residence to pay homage. The governor of both Telugu states ESL Narasimhan and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao paid their last respects on Wednesday.
Actors Nagarjuna, Arjun, Jagapati Babu and director Raghvendra Rao were among the film personalities who paid their last respects.
A former lawmaker, former Andhra Pradesh minister and politburo member of TDP, Nandamuri Harikrishna was son-in-law of TDP president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
Chandrababu Naidu, his son and cabinet minister Nara Lokesh, Harikrishna's brother actor Balakrishna, several other ministers and TDP leaders from the neighbouring state have been busy camping in the city since yesterday.
Harikrishna, made his acting debut in 1964 as a child artiste in Sri Krishnavataram, and acted in a number of Telugu movies including Seetayya and Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo. He was awarded the Nandi Award.
The last rites of TDP leader Nandamuri Harikrishna will be performed later in the day in Hyderabad with state honours. Police have made elaborate arrangements for the funeral procession from his residence to Mahaprasthanam in Jubliee Hills.