Veteran Kapu leader and former minister Mudragada Padmanabham, who had joined the YSR Congress party a few weeks ago ahead of the elections in Andhra Pradesh, has taken a strange vow.
Reacting strongly to Jana Sena Party president and power star Pawan Kalyan’s comments against him at a road show held at Kirlampudi in Konaseema district, Mudragada said he would go all out to see that Pawan Kalyan is defeated in the assembly elections in Pithapuram assembly constituency.
“Here is my challenge. It is certain that Pawan Kalyan is going to face the defeat in Pithapuram. If I cannot ensure his defeat, I will change my name from Padmanabham to Padmanabha Reddy,” he asserted.
Stating that Kapus are not the slaves of Pawan Kalyan to vote for him, Mudragada said the people would kick the actor away from Pithapuram very soon.
“Pawan Kalyan should study the local issues and systems. Just because he has a tongue in his mouth and make-up in his face, he cannot talk whatever he wants,” he said.
The former minister said the Jana Sena Party chief had no moral right to question Kapu MLAs of YSRCP why they had not demanded implementation of Kapu reservations.
“You have absolutely no role in the Kapu quota agitation. You did not even show any sympathy towards Kapus,” he said.
Mudragada said it was true that Jagan had refused to extend reservations to Kapus.
“Yes, I am a useless fellow and idiot without any guts. But Pawan Kalyan claims he has all these qualities. Why didn’t he question Jagan and take up any agitation?” he asked.
The Kapu leader pointed out that he had taken up the agitation for Kapu quota voluntarily.
“I questioned the party which promised the reservations but did not implement. How can I question a person who does not even want to give the reservation? That is why, I kept quiet,” he explained.
Mudragada asked what the locus standi of Pawan Kalyan was to question the Kapu leaders in East Godavari.
“First of all, tell us what his place of birth, mandal and district are. Just because you want to become an MLA, you have come all the way from Hyderabad to Pithapuram. Do you think the people of Konaseema are so gullible and stupid? Why didn’t you contest in Hyderabad?” he asked.
He also pulled up Pawan Kalyan for remaining silent on special category status to Andhra Pradesh, privatisation of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and completion of Polavaram project by the Centre.
“If you have so much clout with Modi, why haven’t you achieved all these?” Mudragada asked.
