Former minister and Kapu strongman Mudragada Padmanabham, who had been strongly attacking the Telugu Desam Party and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu all these days, is now faced with yet another rival YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.
All these days, Mudragada had been attacking Naidu for not being sincere in securing reservations for Kapus and trying to divide the Kapu community with sops.
The TDP leaders were accusing him of joining hands with Jagan in blaming Naidu. However, after Jagan made that controversial statement at his Jaggampet public meeting saying he would not like to commit on Kapu quota as it was in the court of the Centre, Mudragada made a scathing attack on the YSRC chief too.
Though Jagan sought to put the records straight on his comments, Mudragada realised that Kapus might not believe the YSRC chief anymore.
At the same time, he cannot believe Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan also, as the latter had never come out with any open statement in favour of Kapu quota.
So, the best way for Mudragada is be a neutral in the next elections.
According to the latest reports doing rounds in political circles, the Kapu Nadu headed by Mudragada will put up an independent fight in East and West Godavari districts as an alternative to YSRC, TDP and Jana Sena, exclusively on the plank of Kapu quota.
By doing so, Mudragada wants to win as many seats as possible to emerge as a force in the next elections and become a king maker in the state.
If it is not possible, he would at least split a major chunk of Kapu votes, so as to play spoil sport with the chances of major political players. This would force the parties to come on their knees!