Shruti Suman
Senior YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader Mudragada Padmanabham has officially changed his name to ‘Padmanabha Reddy’, fulfilling a pledge he made during the election campaign. This change came after he failed to defeat Janasena Party chief Pawan Kalyan in the recent Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections
Mr. Padmanabham, who is in his seventies, made the name change following Mr. Kalyan’s victory in the Pithapuram Assembly constituency. Prior to the elections, the YSRCP leader had vowed to defeat Mr. Kalyan.
“I changed my name of my own accord; no one forced me,” Mr. Reddy said to media.
Despite this, he expressed frustration over alleged abusive messages from Mr. Kalyan’s fans and followers. “The youth who support you (Kalyan) are constantly sending offensive messages. This is not right. Instead of abusing us, if you feel so strongly, eliminate us (all family members),” said Mr. Reddy.
Mr. Reddy, a prominent leader of the Kapu community and former minister, has been an advocate for Kapu reservation. He joined YSRCP a few months before the elections.
