Mudragada Padmanabham, once a militant Kapu leader and TDP leader, is not happy with sops announced by chief minister Chandrababau Naidu for his community. Known for his adventurist politics , Mudragada was the champion of Kapu cause a decade ago. After falling silent for about 10 year due to lack of proper political forum, the former Kakinada MP, on Saturday warned Naidu of serious consequence it he played politics with Kapu demand of according backward caste status to the community. He said he would not be cowed by the intimidatory tactics.” Kapus will hit back if exploited,” he warned and said he would not take rest till the Kapus were given quota as the backward caste community.

“During the 2014 elections, the TDP assured Kapus that they would be included in BC list. Eighteen months after coming to power, the CM leisurely has set up a committee to look into the issue. The delay is deliberate,” he alleged and urged Naidu to stop making empty promises.
He said any repression beyond a point would beget equal revolt. “If you want to hit a ball with heavy force, don’t forget, it would bounce back with same force,” Mudragada added.

This type of revolt is not new to Mudragada. Earlier, he was one of the few leaders who popularized the indefinite fast for a political cause. In the in late eighties and early nineties the fasts he undertook made him most sought after leader in state politics. This emboldened him switch loyalties at the nap of a finger. A four-time MLA and once an MP he set a record of sorts in changing parties. He started his political career by winning Pithapuram Assembly seat as Janata Party member. Later he switched over to TDP in 1982 and won the assembly elections in 1983 and 1985 from Prathipadu assembly constituency in East Godavari district. Later, he revolted against NTR when he sacked entire cabinet and formed Praja Rakshana Samiti and later launched a political outfit called Telugu Nadu along with KE Krishnamurthy and K Jana Reddy. After a brief association with Congress, he joined Kapunadu and later switched over to BJP and even attended RSS meetings to find solace for his politically inconsistency. He could not continue in BJP as well. Before 1999 elections, he rejoined TDP and contested for LS from Kakinada and won. But lost in 2004. Before 2009 he joined Congress again and contested from Pithapuram Assembly constituency and lost. Later, he was seen moving with Jagan in Odarpu Yatra. Before 2014 elections there was some talk about his moving closer to Naidu which did not happen.

Now, he is only loudly heard, but not seen clearly on the ground, talking Kapu demand. It is not know if it was a desperate attempt to prove that he is still relevant in the present day Kapu politics as well.