Former Pithapuram MLA SVSN Varma, who is considered a frontrunner for an MLC seat under the Governor’s quota, has come to the defence of the Telugu Desam Party leadership over its decision to seek an explanation from Vijayawada Central MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao for remarks that allegedly violated party discipline.
Varma issued a statement condemning Bonda Uma’s comments linking the Telugu Desam Party’s defeat in the 2019 Assembly elections to the Kapu agitation led by the late Mudragada Padmanabham.
Responding to the controversy, Varma said it was incorrect to attribute the party’s electoral defeat solely to the Kapu movement.
He argued that the YSR Congress Party’s sweeping victory in 2019 was largely driven by party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s “One Chance” campaign, which persuaded voters across communities to support the opposition.
He cautioned party leaders against presenting their personal opinions as the official position of the TDP, saying such statements could damage the party’s image.
Highlighting the TDP government’s initiatives for the Kapu community under Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Varma said the government had given significant priority to Kapu welfare by addressing reservation issues, allocating funds to the Kapu Corporation, constructing Kapu Bhavans, implementing overseas education assistance and promoting self-employment programmes.
He also recalled Chandrababu Naidu’s 2014 election promise in Pithapuram to include Kapus in the Backward Classes category, noting that a committee was subsequently constituted to examine the issue. In contrast, he alleged that the previous YSRCP government had done little for the community.
Varma appealed to political leaders not to make derogatory remarks about the late Mudragada Padmanabham, acknowledging his long struggle for the rights of the Kapu community.
He recalled that Chandrababu Naidu had made considerable efforts to persuade Mudragada to end his hunger strike and said those efforts should not be forgotten.
Calling for restraint, Varma urged TDP leaders to understand the facts before making public statements that could weaken the party.
He said leaders had a responsibility to highlight the welfare measures implemented by the government rather than create avoidable controversies.
He further observed that Chandrababu Naidu had never pursued caste-based politics and had consistently focused on providing economic support to weaker sections, irrespective of community.
Warning against statements that could undermine the party, which he described as being like a “mother”, Varma said even the comments of a single leader could have repercussions across all 175 Assembly constituencies in Andhra Pradesh.
He also noted that the NDA coalition government’s 2024 budget had earmarked substantial allocations for the Kapu community.
He questioned why Bonda Uma had not highlighted those measures instead of making controversial remarks.
Varma urged party leaders to promote the government’s achievements rather than create issues that could politically embarrass the ruling party.
