TDP, Jana Sena leaders woo Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham to secure his political re-entry

Kakinada: With just a few months left for the State Legislative Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh speculations abound about the political re-entry of former minister and Kapu community leader Mudragada Padmanabham. For over a decade, Mudragadda had stayed away from direct politics and confined himself to fighting for reservations for Kapus.

However, for a month there were several rumours in the political circles of the state that Mudragada Padmanabham had chosen the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) for his political re-entry in the state.

Sources even confirmed that the Kapu leader decided to join the YSRCP on January 2. So far, there have been no indications from both the YSRCP leadership and Mudragada Padmanabham about the date of him joining the party along with his son Giri Babu. In a chit chat with media on Thursday, Giri Babu ruled out the possibilities of joining the YSRCP along with his father. Instead the duo were in thought of joining either the TDP or the Jana Sena, he added.

TDP-Jana Sena leaders eye Kapu community voters

Taking advantage of the situation and to grab the attention of Kapu community voters, leaders from the Jana Sena and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) made a beeline to the residence of the Kapu leader in Kirlampudi in Kakinada district. On Wednesday night, Jana Sena Tadepalligudem in-charge Bollisetty Srinivas, accompanied by party leaders, met Mudragada Padmanabham.

Sources said that the Jana Sena leaders briefed the details of an open letter written by actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan in which he stated that the YSRCP is trying to use the Kapu community against him.

The Kapu leader even acknowledged Pawan Kalyan’s intention of unity among the Kapu community and said that he was ready to welcome the Jana Sena president to his residence. Sources from Jana Sena said that Pawan Kalyan will also visit Kirlampudi to meet the Kapu leader in the next few days.

TDP leader Jyothula Nehru meets Mudragada

On Thursday, former minister and TDP senior leader Jyothula Nehru met Mudragada Padmanabham at his residence.

After his brief interaction with the Kapu leader, Jyothula Nehru said, “I personally met Mudragadda Padmanabham and sought his support in the forthcoming elections in the State. There is no involvement of the TDP leadership for my visit.” He also added that the Kapu leader assured of supporting him in politics.

Twin Godavari districts to determine election trends in Andhra Pradesh

Meanwhile, all political parties in Andhra Pradesh believe that the twin Godavari districts will determine the election trends in the state.

The party which secures the maximum number of seats in the twin Godavari districts is almost certain to come to power.

In the 2014 Assembly elections, the TDP won 12 out of the total 19 Assembly seats in the then East Godavari district and came to power in the state. In 2019, the YSRCP won 14 out of the 19 Assembly constituencies and three Lok Sabha seats in the district and formed the Government.

TDP-Jana Sena alliance trying to avoid split in Kapu votes

The TDP-Jana Sena alliance is worried that if Mudragada Padmanabham joins the YSRCP, there will be a split in the Kapu votes which will benefit the ruling party. In this regard, the TDP and Jana Sena leaders are leaving no stone unturned for the victory in the twin Godavari districts and convening a series of meetings with the Kapu leader to show the unity among the Kapu community and to dethrone the YSRCP from power in the state.