The mishap took place when a car, in which he was travelling, hit an oil tanker from behind near Ranasthalam in Srikakulam district in north coastal Andhra, about 700 km from Hyderabad, around 2 a.m.

Naidu, a politburo member of TDP, was returning to Srikakulam from Visakhapatnam, after attending a marriage when the accident occurred.

A profusely bleeding Naidu was shifted to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), where the doctors’ efforts to resuscitate him failed. He was declared dead around 3.30 a.m.

Four others travelling with Naidu were also injured. Two of them were admitted to RIMS.

Yerran Naidu, a four-time MP who served as union minister for rural development from 1996 to 1998, is survived by wife, a son and a daughter. The last rites will be performed at his native village Nimmada in Srikakulam district Friday.