Caste identity seems to be catching up in Andhra Pradesh politics. With the arrest of Ambati Rambabu, the Kapu issue came to the fore. Ambati released on bail addressed media and said Kammaga unna prabhutvanni Kapu kastunnadu Pawan Kalyan.
Mudgragada Padmanabham has been holding the flag for Kapu identity. Ambati Rambabu simply stoked the fire further. His speech was about he being a kapu and how their community needed more visibility beyond Pawan Kalyan and Naga Babu.
Given this background, the comments made by Vangaveeti Radha at the inauguration of Vangaveeti Ranga’s statue are gaining traction on social media.
Radhakrishna said that kapus must support and bless MLA Dadisetti Raja and Jakkampudi Ganesh. He said only if they are strong, will they be able to do anything for you (kapus).
Now, Andhra political watchers are wondering if the kapu leaders got some surety from YSRCP leader Jagan. Is the party’s strategy of splitting the kapu vote bank working?
Is Andhra politics seeing a shift from issue-based politics to caste-based politics? For now, events appear to be happening in that direction.
YSRCP is trying to create an anti Pawan Kalyan kapu camp. Unable to fight the Chandrababu government on the technology front, the YSRCP leaders are now talking of kammanaina palana.
Elections are three years away. Politically, YSRCP will reap no benefits immediately. But looks like Jagan’s party has come up with a caste bomb to use it every time Chandrababu hits a milestone. Cheap tactic, but a reality taking shape in AP, say AP watchers.
