It has been nearly a month since veteran Kapu leader and former minister Mudragada Padmanabham officially joined the YSR Congress party in the presence of chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Nothing much was heard about Mudragada in the last one month, though there are reports that he had been focussing only on Pithapuram where Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan is contesting.
Mudragada has been holding meetings with Kapu leaders in Pithapuram and preparing the ground for consolidation of Kapu votes in favour of YSRCP candidate Vanga Geetha, but has not come out with any major statements against Pawan Kalyan so far.
But on Wednesday, Mudragada came out in the open and lashed out at Pawan Kalyan for making indirect comments against him for campaigning for the YSR Congress party during his election speeches at Pithapuram.
“If you are really a man, speak about me directly by addressing a press conference, instead of instigating his side characters to abuse me. It is unbecoming on his part to make silly comments against chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy,” he said.
Mudragada said it is ridiculous on the part of Pawan to make an indirect allegation that he was sold out for money given by the YSRCP.
“Why don’t you say it openly and ask me directly, instead of beating around the bush. I can answer your every question and I will also counter you with my questions,” he challenged.
The Kapu veteran said Pawan Kalyan had, in fact, no connection with Andhra Pradesh or for that matter Pithapuram.
“He was born and brought up in Hyderabad, which is in Telangana. What moral right does he have to ask for votes in Pithapuram?” he asked.
Mudragada alleged that Pawan had mortgaged his self-respect with TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu who had insulted him in the past.
“The actor has entered politics only to protect the estates of Chandrababu Naidu,” he said and called upon the people to declare pack up and send Pawan Kalyan back to Hyderabad.