Stage is set for the entry of veteran Kapu leader and former minister Mudragada Padmanabham into active Andhra politics, after a long gap of more than two decades.
Mudragada has more or less made up his mind to join the YSR Congress party. On Thursday, he had a meeting with state industries and IT minister Gudivada Amarnath in Visakhapatnam to discuss the time and place of his entry into the party.
There were reports that Mudragada might be fielded from Kakinada parliamentary constituency in the next Lok Sabha elections.
Amarnath is learnt to have brought the proposal from YSR Congress party president and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and discussed the same with Mudragada.
However, sources said Mudragada is keen on contesting the assembly elections and get into the state cabinet if possible.
Apparently, he is of the view that his contest in the assembly elections would help the party gain the support of Kapu community more.
It appears Mudragada is keen on contesting from Tuni or Peddapuram assembly constituencies to test his fortunes. Amarnath reportedly told him that he would discuss the same with Jagan.
Both the leaders also reportedly discussed the strategies on consolidating Kapu votes in East Godavari district, so that they would not get attracted towards Jana Sena Party or the Telugu Desam Party.
Mudragada reportedly assured the ministers that he would hold a series of meetings with the community leaders in the coming days in this regard.
