Andhra Pradesh BJP leader and former minister P Manikyala Rao today died of the coronavirus in Vijayawada.
He was admitted to a private hospital after being infected by the virus, and breathed his last in the hospital, according to reports.
Rao had recently revealed that he was infected with the virus.
Rao had worked as the endowments minister in the government of Chandrababu Naidu (formed in 2014 in a coalition with the BJP). He was the MLA for Tadepalligudem.
Rao had been with the BJP since 1989. Several leaders condoled the death of the former minister.