Kapu leader and former minister Mudragada Padmanabham, who decided to launch the padayatra Chalo Amaravati from Kirlampudi in East Godavari to the Secretariat at Velagapudi in Guntur district, was put under house arrest on Wednesday. The situation turned tense at Kirlampudi village of East Godavari district as thousands of police personnel were deployed to foil the padayatra, which was to be held to highlight the issue of Kapu reservations.
Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Sambasiva Rao, who also belongs to the community, said that Kapu activists had not sought permission for the Padayatra. He informed that Section 144 was being promulgated and warned that activities disruptive to the law and order in the state won't be tolerated. Last year, the first Kapu Ikya Garjana, held at Tuni on 31 January, had turned violent and the Ratnachal Express was set on fire, but there were no casualties. This year, they have decided to take a tough stance against Kapu rallies.
The padayatra holds significance in the state as Kapus are a significant number and make or mar a political party's chances. The Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had promised to include them in the BC fold. The TDP had won the 2014 elections with a margin of 2 per cent over YSRCP. With the Kapus being at 27 per cent of the population, it would be wise for Naidu to win the favours of the community if he wants to come back for another five years.
The Kapu reservation issue is not new. The then Congress chief minister, K. Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy, had issued a GO in 1993 including Kapus in the BC list, only for it to be struck down by the High Court, when BC Welfare Association challenged the list fearing that it would cut into the existing reservation percentage of the BCs.
In the 2014 elections, the TDP got 35 per cent votes compared to the YSRCP's 45 per cent. But TDP got lucky, thanks to the BJP's 3 per cent and the Congress' 9 per cent votes, which went in TDP's favour increasing TDP's vote share to 47 per cent.
Many think that the Mudragada phenomenon is YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s creation. Kapu leaders within the TDP are already busy trying to douse the excitement among the Kapu youth. Now, Kapu Welfare and Development Corporation Chairman Ch Ramanujaya has been assigned to keep the Kapus with the TDP. Ramanujaya had declared that he would go on a silent protest on July 26 to compete with Mudragada’s Chalo Amaravati.
It is said that the community supports those whom they perceive as being the winner. Initially, they were with the Congress, when it was the single largest party in united Andhra Pradesh. Once NT Rama Rao established TDP in 1983 and the fight for 'atma gouravam' began, the Kapu's shifted base. But soon they were back with the Congress. In 2009, they decided to support Chiranjeevi, who was from the community, and even helped him win 18 seats. In the 2014 elections, they supported Pawan Kalyan, which essentially meant support for TDP-BJP combo.
Now, the fear among the TDP is that in the 2019 elections, if Pawan Kalyan decides to go alone, the Kapu votes will be a concern. Therefore, it makes sense for Naidu to keep the Kapu flock happy by keeping his promise.
