High drama unfolded at the residence of former Andhra Pradesh minister Mudragada Padmanabham in Kirlampudi, Kakinada district, on Wednesday, 15 July, as family members and supporters physically blocked his daughter Barlapudi Kranthi from touching his body. The late Kapu leader, who passed away in Hyderabad on Tuesday following a brief illness, had reportedly instructed his family that Kranthi should not be permitted near him even after his death.

Background: A Family Rift Rooted in Politics

The estrangement between Padmanabham and his daughter stemmed from the 2024 Assembly elections. Kranthi had publicly backed Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan, describing him as the leader of the Kapu community — a direct rebuke of her father's position. Padmanabham had famously vowed to change his name to Padmanabha Reddy if he failed to defeat Pawan Kalyan in the Pithapuram Assembly constituency and pledged to drive him out of the seat. After losing that contest, he did adopt the new name, but the family rupture proved irreparable. He had reportedly made his wishes about Kranthi's exclusion from his funeral known to family members well before his death.

Tense Standoff at Prathipadu

On Wednesday morning, police intercepted vehicles carrying Kranthi and her supporters at Prathipadu, acting on a request from family members and followers of the late leader to honour his last wishes. After Kranthi appealed to be allowed to see her father one final time, police advised her to reduce the size of her convoy and proceed to Kirlampudi without her supporters. Officers then escorted her to the residence, a move that triggered immediate protests — family members and followers raised slogans against her and attempted to prevent her from entering the house.

Two Minutes at the Coffin

Despite the pushing and jostling, Kranthi managed to reach the freezer coffin containing her father's body under police escort. She was, however, not allowed to touch it. Her mother publicly expressed anger over the visit and, according to reports, blamed Kranthi for Padmanabham's death. Kranthi spent approximately two minutes at the site before leaving. The body had been brought to Kirlampudi from Hyderabad the previous night.

State Accords Official Funeral Honours

The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday decided to conduct the funeral with full official honours. The decision followed a telephonic conversation between Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan — the same leader whose political rise had fractured the Padmanabham family. Noting that the former minister had served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly four times, as a Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) once, and as a State Cabinet Minister, the two leaders directed officials to accord him a state funeral. The last rites were scheduled to be performed at Kirlampudi on Wednesday evening.

Padmanabham, who had led a sustained movement for reservation for the Kapu community, had joined the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) a few months before the 2024 elections. His death marks the end of a long and often turbulent political career — one whose final chapter was defined as much by family conflict as by public service.