Dadi Veerabhadra Rao

Dadi Veerabhadra Rao (born 3 July 1950) is an Indian politician from Andhra Pradesh. He is a four-time MLA from Anakapalli Constituency in Visakhapatnam district. He served as a minister twice and was the leader of the opposition party for six years.

Early life and education
Rao hails from Anakapalli and was born to late Dadi Jagga Rao. He completed his M.Com. from AMAL College, Anakapalli. He belongs to Gavara Naidu community.

Career
Rao first won the 1985 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Election from Anakapalli Constituency in the then Visakhapatnam district on Telugu Desam Party ticket and went on to win the next three elections in 1989, 1994 and 1999. He tasted defeat at the hands of Konathala Ramakrishna of Indian National Congress in 2004 Assembly Election. He also lost the next elections in 2009 but became an MLC in 2013. In May 2013, he quit Telugu Desam and joined YSRCP. before the assembly elections in 2014 but rejoined TDP after the elections. Again, in March 2019, he joined YSR Congress Party but did not contest any election and became a star campaigner. However, he returned to TDP once again after quitting YSRCP in January 2024. In March 2024, he vowed to support his long-time political rival Konathala Ramakrishna who is contesting the Anakapalli MLA seat.