Veteran Kapu leader and former minister Mudragada Padmanabham has been roped into the YSR Congress party with a high expectations that he would tilt the scales in favour of the party in Kapu belts of East and West Godavari districts.
Especially in Pithapuram assembly constituency, where power star and Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan is contesting, the YSRCP leadership entrusted the key responsibility of splitting the Kapu votes and prevent them from being consolidated in favour of the actor.
But ground reports indicate that Mudragada has not been doing much campaign in support of YSRCP candidate Vanga Geetha in Pithapuram, nor is he holding regular meetings with Kapu groups to mobilise their support for the YSRCP.
A YSRCP leader from the district said Mudragada has turned out to be a liability than an asset for the party, as he has belied the expectations of the party.
“We are surprised what has happened to the kind of aggression he used to display during the Kapu reservation movement,” he said.
The leader said Mudragada has not addressed many rallies and even those which he addressed did not evoke much response from the people.
“He doesn’t suit to the present style of campaigning. Many people think that he is a spent force,” the party leader said.
Right now, Mudragada is confined to writing open letters, issuing press statements or addressing press conferences.
On Friday, too, the Kapu strongman wrote an open letter, appealing to the people to vote for “fan” symbol, which provides much needed relief to them in summer.
“Every house has a fan and just like it is saving you from heat, the Jagan government, too, will provide you the much-needed relief. The glass tumblers are old-fashioned. They get broken easily and cause harm to us. So, people are using steel tumblers,” he said, referring to Pawan Kalyan party’s glass symbol.
The Kapu leader also said Telugu Desam Party’s cycle has become rusted and useless.
“Only fan can be your saviour. If you make any mistake in casting your vote, you will lose heavily in future,” he warned.