With an eye on the 2029 Assembly elections, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has begun reworking its political strategy by focusing on Kapu community mobilisation, particularly in the politically influential Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh.
The move comes as both the ruling NDA coalition and the opposition YSRCP prepare for a prolonged political battle after the completion of two years of the coalition government’s tenure.
As part of its new outreach strategy, a meeting of YSRCP Kapu leaders was held at Venkatapuram under the leadership of MLC Thota Trimurthulu.
The gathering discussed current political developments, community welfare issues and future organisational plans.
Apparently, the meeting was held in the wake of Jana Sena Party chief and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s recent outburst against attempts to identify him only with the Kapu community, while he has been insisting that he wants to work above caste politics.
The way Pawan Kalyan is reportedly encouraging Kamma leaders around him and ignoring the demands of Kapus appears to have upset sections of the community.
The YSRCP now seems keen to take advantage of this sentiment and woo the community by politically isolating Pawan Kalyan.
Leaders at Monday’s meeting asserted that their objective was not to support any individual politician but to address concerns affecting the Kapu community.
They criticised the ruling coalition government, alleging that promises made to the community before the elections had not been fulfilled.
Participants recalled that the previous YSRCP government had implemented the Kapu Nestham welfare scheme and accused the present government of neglecting community interests.
The meeting passed several resolutions, including a decision to actively intervene whenever members of the Kapu community face alleged injustice anywhere in the state.
Leaders specifically referred to the recent case involving rowdy-sheeter Gade Sai Krishna in Vijayawada’s Krishnalanka area and resolved to extend support to the affected families.
In a significant organisational move, the YSRCP leaders decided to establish three regional task force committees covering different parts of Andhra Pradesh. These committees will monitor issues concerning the Kapu community and coordinate support activities.
The leaders also proposed creating a crowdfunding mechanism to provide financial assistance to Kapu families facing hardship. Participants resolved to contribute at least Rs 50,000 each towards supporting Sai Krishna’s family.
Another resolution expressed hope that veteran Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham Reddy would recover from his health issues and resume his active role in championing community causes.
The gathering also decided to organise similar meetings in Visakhapatnam and Tirupati to expand the outreach programme.
Senior YSRCP leader Kurasala Kannababu later clarified that the meeting was not convened for the benefit of any individual or solely in response to a particular incident. Instead, he described it as part of a broader effort to discuss community issues and social justice concerns.
The YSRCP’s renewed focus on Kapu politics is being closely watched by political observers, particularly because the Kapu community plays a decisive role in several constituencies across the Godavari region.
The effectiveness of this strategy and its impact on future political alignments in Andhra Pradesh will become clearer as the party expands its outreach efforts in the coming months.
