Springing up a surprise, the Telugu Desam Government announced that it would provide 5% reservation to the Kapus of the total 10% quota or economically weaker sections, a decision taken by the Central Government. The decision by AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu comes ahead of the Assembly polls in the state and is a move to attract Kapu voters to TDP.
With this move, the Telugu Desam Party seems to have scored a few brownie points. While this quota surprise is still yet to sink in for other political parties as it is seen as a timely move, popular Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham who had stirred the movement for Kapu reservations seems to be missing in action.
As someone who seemed to take up the Kapu quota cause diligently, Mudragada’s silence on the state government’s announcement is surprising. Political circles are ringing with rumours that the TDP has ended the scope for criticism from the YSRCP, Jana Sena as well as Mudragada who have been criticising the party on not being serious about its Kapu reservation promise.
Some of the leaders are now of the opinion that this could be a move to attract Mudragada Padmanabham into the Telugu Desam Party. With Vangaveeti Radha, a kapu leader, already announcing his entry into TDP, will Mudragada follow suit, forgetting his trenchant attacks on Chandrababu?
