Mudragada Padmanabham, Kapu leader and ex-Andhra minister, dies at 73
Synopsis
Mudragada Padmanabham — four-time MLA, one-time MP, and the most prominent face of the Kapu reservation movement in Andhra Pradesh — died at 73 on Tuesday. His passing ends a five-decade political journey that crossed the TDP, Lok Sabha, and finally YSRCP, leaving the Kapu community's unfinished reservation battle without its most recognisable champion.
Key Takeaways
Mudragada Padmanabham passed away on 14 July at a private hospital in Hyderabad , aged 73 , following a brief illness.
He was first elected to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly in 1978 and served as MLA four times, and as MP from Kakinada in 1999 .
He served as a minister in N.
Rama Rao's Cabinet between 1985 and 1988 .
He led the movement demanding Backward Class status for the Kapu community , including undertaking a hunger strike.
Chandrababu Naidu , Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan , and former CM Y.
Jagan Mohan Reddy all expressed condolences.
Former Andhra Pradesh minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader Mudragada Padmanabham passed away on Tuesday, 14 July, following a brief illness. He was 73. The veteran politician breathed his last at a private hospital in Hyderabad on Tuesday evening, triggering an outpouring of condolences from leaders across party lines in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
A Political Career Spanning Five Decades
Born on 22 January 1953 in Kirlampudi in the combined East Godavari district, Mudragada entered active politics in 1977 and was first elected to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1978 from the Prathipadu constituency on a Jana Party ticket. He went on to win the assembly seat again in 1983, 1985, and 1989 — a total of four terms as MLA.
He joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) when it was founded by actor-turned-politician N. T. Rama Rao (NTR) in 1982, and served as a minister in NTR's Cabinet between 1985 and 1988. He subsequently resigned from the ministry, quit the TDP, and floated two separate political outfits — Praja Rakshana Samithi and Telugu Nadu Party — before eventually rejoining the TDP.
After his return to the TDP, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Kakinada constituency in 1999. Ahead of the 2024 general elections, he joined the YSR Congress Party.
Champion of Kapu Community Reservation
Mudragada was widely recognised as a prominent voice for the Kapu community, one of the largest communities in Andhra Pradesh. He spearheaded the movement demanding Backward Class (BC) status for the Kapu community and undertook a hunger strike to press the demand — a campaign that drew significant political attention and brought the reservation debate to the forefront of state politics.
Notably, his advocacy for Kapu reservation made him a figure who transcended party affiliation, with his community standing remaining robust regardless of which political banner he operated under.
Leaders Across Parties Condole His Passing
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan expressed their condolences. Pawan Kalyan noted that Mudragada had represented the people in the Legislative Assembly four times and once in the Lok Sabha from the Kakinada constituency.
Former Chief Minister and YSRCP president Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed profound grief over what he described as a sudden and shocking loss. Jagan personally telephoned Mudragada's son, Giribabu, to convey condolences, saying the news had 'deeply saddened and shocked him.' He urged the bereaved family to remain strong and said Mudragada Padmanabham's 'dedicated service to the people would always be remembered' and that 'his contributions would remain an enduring legacy.'
Legacy and What Comes Next
Mudragada Padmanabham leaves behind a political legacy defined by community mobilisation, institutional persistence across multiple parties, and a sustained — if unresolved — fight for Kapu reservation. His passing removes one of the more independent-minded voices from Andhra Pradesh's political landscape, at a time when the Kapu community's political direction remains a live question ahead of future state elections.
Point of View
Not a personal one. With his passing, the Kapu community loses its most recognisable interlocutor, and the question of who fills that vacuum will shape Andhra's caste arithmetic well before the next election cycle.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Mudragada Padmanabham?
Mudragada Padmanabham was a veteran Andhra Pradesh politician, former state minister, and one-time Lok Sabha MP who served as a prominent leader of the Kapu community. He was associated with multiple parties over his five-decade career, most recently the YSR Congress Party, and was best known for leading the movement demanding Backward Class reservation for the Kapu community.
When and where did Mudragada Padmanabham pass away?
He passed away on Tuesday, 14 July, at a private hospital in Hyderabad, following a brief illness. He was 73 years old.
What was Mudragada Padmanabham's political career?
He was first elected to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly in 1978 on a Jana Party ticket, later joined the Telugu Desam Party, and served as a minister in N. T. Rama Rao's Cabinet between 1985 and 1988. He won the MLA seat four times in total and was elected to the Lok Sabha from Kakinada in 1999. He joined the YSRCP ahead of the 2024 elections.
What was the Kapu reservation movement he led?
Mudragada Padmanabham spearheaded the campaign demanding Backward Class status for the Kapu community in Andhra Pradesh, which included undertaking a hunger strike to press the demand. The movement drew significant political attention across state governments but the reservation demand remained unresolved at the time of his death.
Who condoled Mudragada Padmanabham's death?
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy all expressed condolences. Jagan personally called Mudragada's son Giribabu to convey his grief, describing the news as deeply saddening and shocking.
