Even as the Kapu community is said to be terribly upset with the abject surrender of power star and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan to the Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu, the YSR Congress party led by chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy is going all out to woo the community.
While roping in Kapu veteran Mudragada Padmanabham into the party and appeasing another veteran Ch Harirama Jogaiah, the YSRC chief is said to be dealing a masterstroke by luring ex-MLA Vangaveeti Radhakrishna, son of Kapu icon late Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga, into the party.
According to sources, Vangaveeti Radha, who is presently in the Telugu Desam Party, has more or less made up his mind to join the YSRCP ahead of the coming elections, as his future in the TDP appears to be uncertain.
Radha, who has been maintaining close relations with YSRCP legislator and former minister Kodali Venkashwara Rao alias Nani and Gannavaram MLA Vallabhaneni Vamsi Mohan, reportedly told his followers that he might join the ruling party, as he got a firm assurance on the party ticket from Vijayawada (central).
The Vangaveeti scion has recently been to Varanasi (Kasi) to perform “pinda pradan” for his father Ranga. Along with his followers, he was accompanied by Kodali Nani also to Varanasi.
Though it was not uncommon for Kodali Nani and Vamsi attending the functions hosted by Vangaveeti family, this time Nani went to Varanasi along with Radha with a specific purpose, sources said.
He reportedly carried a message from Jagan that if Radha can return to the YSRCP, he would not only get the MLA ticket from the constituency of his choice, but also a cabinet berth if the party comes to power.
On the other hand, there was no such assurance to Radha from the TDP, as there is an intense competition from within the party. In fact, he has not been very active in the TDP for quite some time.
He, however, took part in the padayatra of TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh and after Chandrababu Naidu returned from Rajahmundry central jail, he called on the latter and expressed solidarity with him.
“Yet, Radha is not certain about the party ticket in the TDP. So, he has made up his mind to join the YSRC for a better future,” sources said.