Apparently realising that a possible alliance between Telugu Desam Party led by N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party led by actor Pawan Kalyan might make a huge dent in the Kapu vote bank of the YSR Congress party in the coming elections, the ruling party has begun efforts to retain its hold on the community.
On Monday, on the directions of chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, Kapu representatives of the YSRC held a meeting at Rajahmundry to discuss the strategies to retain the Kapu vote bank and counter the threat from Pawan-Naidu combine.
The meeting, which was attended by the YSRC ministers, MLAs, MPs and MLCs, unanimously decided to launch a vigorous campaign to explain what the Jagan government has been doing for Kapu community and also counter the negative campaign by Pawan Kalyan.
They decided that a bigger meeting of the community leaders could be organised at Vijayawada shortly by involving all elected and nominated leaders of the ruling party who represent the Kapu community.
The Rajahmundry meeting passed three resolutions for the Kapu community, reiterating that YSRC is the only party that is committed to their welfare.
Deputy Chief Minister Kottu Satyanarayana, ministers Botsa Satyanarayana, Ambati Rambabu, Gudivada Amarnath, MLAs Kurasala Kannababu and Jakkampudi Raja were among the participants.
Three major resolutions that were passed after deliberations that last four hours were:
1. A huge forum would be organised in Vijayawada where Kapus from all nominated posts including Zila Parishad chairmans would be invited to decide on future programmes to improve Kapu welfare activities
2. Door-to-door exercise to appraise people of the work put in by the current Andhra Pradesh government to ensure the upliftment of Kapus, and,
3. Senior leaders to take up a one-on-one meeting with all Kapu leaders to appraise them of their tasks in the future
Education Minister Botsa Satyanarayana said, 'In the the last 3 years, no one has worked harder for the empowerment of Kapus than Chief Minister Jagan. During his tenure, he enacted the decisive policy to categorise Kapus as part of BC-D category which has made them eligible for numerous benefits from the government.'
Botsa also highlighted how the Chief Minister stood by his promise to improve the representation of Kapu leaders across positions of leadership and governance.
Stating facts, he said, 'The Jagan Mohan Reddy government has 4 cabinet ministers hailing from the Kapu community. There has been 15% more representation for Kapus than any other community in the candidates fielded by the YSRCP in Assembly and Parliamentary elections.
Even at the local level, 2 Mayors, 7 Municipal Chairmen and 44 MPP candidates were elected from the YSRCP who all belong to the Kapu community. This is much higher than what the previous government ever did.'
Sounding a warning to not be taken for granted, Water Resources Minister Ambati Rambabu asked the public to be wary of the opposition whose only objective was to use Kapus as a vote bank. He said, 'In the current dispensation, Kapus no longer have to pay second fiddle to an untrustworthy leadership. They are able to lead a life of dignity and respect today with a government and a Chief Minister who is earnest and committed to protecting each and every Kapu family in the state. Do not fall prey to the nefarious strategy of the Opposition that only believes in Use And Throw policy.'
Reminding the public of the atrocities of the previous Chandrababu Naidu led government, Rambabu stated, 'The previous TDP regime indulged in a lot of anti-Kapu activities. They promised reservations and then backtracked and later equated those fighting for the Kapu cause to terrorists. Don't forget how they tormented the family of Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham. Contrary to that, look at the current situation. After coming to power, Jagan Mohan Reddy government has not just aided the community through schemes, but has also raised the status of Kapus in the society.'
The minister also condemned the harsh comments made by Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan against Kapus. 'Recently we all saw how Pawan Kalyan used derogatory language against Kapus. I want to alert all Kapus, especially the youth not to get swayed by someone who has abused your entire community. Look closely and you will realise that it's only the YSRCP Government that has preserved the interest of Kapus.
Statistics are proof of the fact that the order and scale of welfare of the Kapu community has been unparalleled during Jagan Reddy's regime.'
The other highlights of the meeting are:
- CM Jagan Mohan Reddy’s government has spent ₹26,490 crore in just 3 years of his tenure for the welfare of Kapu community which is 14 times more than what the previous government spent in their entire five year tenure
- The variety of welfare schemes undertaken by CM Jagan Mohan Reddy’s government has benefitted 70 Lakh+ Kapus while that number during the TDP was barely 2.5 Lakh
- For the first time in Andhra’s history, over 90% of all Kapus in the state are receiving some kind of benefit from the government to support their livelihoods and aspirations.
