Bandaru Dattatreya was born on 26 February 1947. He started his political career as pracharak in RSS and later joined in BJP. He held several important positions in BJP at national and state levels. He is Vice – President of BJP and also served as President of BJP Unit of Andhra Pradesh.
Dattatreya was a Union Minister in the cabinets of Atal Bihari Vajpayee during 1998-99 and again in 2002 – 2004. He held the portfolios of Urban Development and Railways.
Dattatreya celebrates a cultural gathering called Alai-Balai every year and he invites all the political leaders and cultural figures in the state to attend the celebrations. This event was started by him and celebrated during Navaratri festivities.