Another attempt to bring Kapus onto one platform in Andhra Pradesh
The Hindu
Newly founded association ‘Radha Ranga Rayal’ announces Kapu Nadu in Visakhapatnam on December 26; community leaders from all political parties in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have been invited
The announcement of holding a ‘Kapu Nadu’ in Visakhapatnam on December 26 by Kapu leader from the North Andhra region, G. Balaji, under the aegis of the newly founded association ‘Radha Ranga Rayal’ (RRR) appears to be another attempt to bring the people belonging to the community onto one platform.
The announcement gains political significance as it was done by one of the most prominent Kapu leaders from this region and TDP MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao, at a function held here on December 12 (Monday). However, the former Minister was cautious in saying, “As of now, there is no political agenda in holding the Kapu Nadu in Visakhapatnam. However, we are not ruling out any such agenda in the future as the Kapus are a powerful community both in numbers and stature in Andhra Pradesh.”
The announcement of holding the programme at AS Raja Grounds was made in the presence of many senior Kapu leaders and eminent persons from the community including Padma Shri awardee Dr. S.V. Adinarayana.
Official data suggest that the Kapus comprise about 21% of the State’s population. However, the number is claimed to be about 27%. The fortunes of almost all political parties in the State depends on the leaning of the Kapus. Earlier attempts to consolidate the community have failed and almost all political parties either woo them into their fold or try to break the unity in a bid to split the huge vote bank.
Actor-turned politician K. Chiranjeevi, a Kapu leader, tried the unite the community in 2009 by launching the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP). He won the election but his party could secure only 18 seats.
Later, it was his actor brother Pawan Kalyan launched the Jana Sena Party (JSP) in 2014. Even as he did not contest the election, he had played a key role in bringing TDP national president N. Chandrababu Naidu to power, with the help of the BJP alliance. However, Mr. Pawan Kalyan lost miserably in 2019 elections as his party secured only one of the 175 Assembly seats in the State.
Thereafter, there appears to be a growing negative stimulus among the Kapus and the split is widening. Now, the announcement of the Kapu Nadu is an attempt to bring the community together, says G. Balaji, the founder of ‘Radha Ranga Rayal’ (RRR).
he Tamil Nadu Government will take appropriate decision to protect the welfare and livelihood of Manjolai tea estate workers as Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation, which is managing the tea gardens for the past 90-odd years, is about to wind up its operations in near future, Speaker M. Appavu has said.