NTR’s daughter Uma Maheswari dies by suicide

Hyderabad, Aug 1: Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao’s daughter Kanthamaneni Uma Maheswari allegedly committed suicide here on Monday.

Maheswari, 52, hanged herself at her residence in upmarket Jubilee Hills.

Jubilee Hills police received the information about the suicide around 2.35 p.m. after Maheswari’s daughter Deekshita reportedly found her hanging in her bedroom.

Police registered a case under section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code and shifted the body to government-run Osmania Hospital for autopsy.

It was initially reported that Maheswari died of ill health. The reasons for suicide are not known.

Youngest among 12 children of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) founder, she is survived by two daughters.

The death of Uma Maheswari plunged the Nandamuri family into the gloom. She was the youngest of four sisters. Former Union Minister and BJP leader Daggubati Purandeswari and TDP President and former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s wife Nara Bhuwaneswari is her well-known sister.

Uma Maheswari’s brother popular Tollywood actor and TDP legislator N. Balakrishna, Chandrababu Naidu, his son Nara Lokesh and other family members rushed to Maheswari’s residence.

The deceased’s daughter and other family members who live abroad have been informed, family sources said.

NTR, as N. T. Rama Rao, is popularly known, was one of the tallest Telugu leaders. The actor-turned-politician had floated the TDP in 1982 on the slogan of Telugu self-respect and created a record of sorts by leading the party to power within nine months, ending the single party rule of the Congress in then undivided Andhra Pradesh.

He died in 1996 at the age of 72, a few months after he was thrown out of power following a revolt led by his son-in-law Chandrababu Naidu.

NTR had 12 children – eight sons and four daughters. Uma Maheswari was the youngest of four daughters. Many family members had come together recently at the wedding of Uma Maheswari’s daughter.

NTR’s three sons including actor and former minister N. Harikrishna have already passed away.

–IANS