Former minister and Kapu strongman Mudragada Padmanabham, who has been ignored by all the political parties despite his fight for the rights of his community, appears to be trying to get closer to YSR Congress party led by chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
It was evident from a letter written by him to the chief minister on Tuesday.
While giving an impression that he is continuing to fight for Kapu reservations, Mudragada lavished praises on Jagan and also reminded how he had supported him during his yatra in the past. He hoped that Jagan would not forget the past.
In his letter, Mudragada said he was very much pleased with the way Jagan has been implementing the assurances, including those which were given in the manifesto and also those which were not promised, despite financial constraints.
“In the same breath, I am requesting that the chief minister should focus on the issue of Kapu reservations. This is not something new we are asking. My community had enjoyed reservations as Backward Classes from 1915 to till Independence. Many people who had joined government jobs under BC quota, retired as forward castes,” he reminded.
Mudragada requested that Jagan should take up the Kapu quota issue with the Centre, since the file seeking to provide 5 per cent quota to Kapus under BC-F category had been pending with Union home ministry.
“Kapu still remember Ambedkar and Damodaram Sanjeevaiah for extending quota to the community. If you can attend to this issue, you would also be remembered like those great leaders,” he said.
In an attempt to further pamper Jagan, Mudragada attacked TDP president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu for subjecting Kapus to torture and abusing him and his family members with vulgar language.
“In spite of facing humiliations from Naidu, we could not get the BC quota,” he said.
Mudragada also reminded that he had extended all cooperation to Jagan during the latter’s Odarpu Yatra in 2011.
“Without expecting a single rupee or vehicle from you, I and my followers spend their own money and participated in your Odarpu Yatra to make it a huge success,” he said.
Though many Congress leaders were afraid of supporting Jagan those days, Mudragada claimed that he had take the lead and got suspended from the party.
“You can anybody in your party – Chandrasekhar Reddy, Ramakrishna Reddy, Karunakar Reddy or Y V Subba Reddy. They will tell about my sacrifices for you,” the former minister said, adding that he was not asking for any political rehabilitation, but only requesting the chief minister to achieve quota for Kapus.