YSRCP demands apology from Pawan Kalyan over Kapu community remarks
Synopsis
YSRCP has turned Pawan Kalyan's alleged remarks into a caste flashpoint, accusing him of insulting the Kapu community while deflecting from custodial deaths and DSC irregularities. With the Kapu bloc crucial to coastal Andhra's electoral arithmetic, the demand for a public apology is as much a political gambit as it is a community grievance.
Key Takeaways
YSRCP demanded on 22 June that Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan apologise to the Kapu community for allegedly derogatory remarks.
Former ministers Kurasala Kannababu and Dadisetti Raja , and former MP Vanga Geetha , led the charge at a press conference in Kakinada .
YSRCP accused the coalition government of using Pawan Kalyan to divert attention from custodial deaths, law and order failures, and alleged DSC irregularities .
Leaders questioned Pawan Kalyan's silence on unfulfilled promises: Kapu reservations , Kapu Nestham , and Kapu Corporation funding.
Ramesh Babu warned that invoking the Kapu community against Pawan Kalyan would 'politically bury' YSRCP.
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) on 22 June demanded that Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan immediately apologise to the Kapu community for allegedly making derogatory remarks against its members and leaders. The demand came from senior YSRCP leaders who belong to the Kapu community themselves, sharpening the political edge of the confrontation.
What YSRCP Leaders Said
Addressing the media at the party office in Kakinada, former ministers Kurasala Kannababu and Dadisetti Raja, former MP Vanga Geetha, and YSRCP Assembly coordinators from the Kakinada Parliamentary constituency accused Pawan Kalyan of becoming an instrument of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's 'diversion politics.' They alleged that the coalition government, facing pressure over a series of custodial deaths, missing bodies, law and order failures, and alleged DSC irregularities, had deployed Pawan Kalyan to shift public attention through personal attacks on former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and YSRCP leaders.
The leaders argued that insulting Kapu figures such as Botsa Satyanarayana, Mudragada Padmanabham, Thota Trimurtulu, and Vanga Geetha was tantamount to insulting the entire Kapu community. They also questioned why Kapus aligned with YSRCP were labelled as 'rowdies' while those in the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Jana Sena Party were portrayed as respectable figures.
Historical Context and Unfulfilled Promises
YSRCP leaders alleged that Chandrababu Naidu had historically sought to portray Kapu leaders — from Vangaveeti Ranga onwards — as anti-social elements, and was now using Pawan Kalyan to weaken the community from within. The leaders also questioned Pawan Kalyan's silence on commitments made to the Kapu community, including Kapu reservations, the Kapu Nestham welfare scheme, and annual allocations to the Kapu Corporation. This comes amid a broader pattern of caste-based political mobilisation that has intensified in Andhra Pradesh ahead of future electoral cycles.
Jana Sena Hits Back
Jana Sena Party wasted no time in responding. Party MLA P. Ramesh Babu warned YSRCP that while attacking Pawan Kalyan might fetch attention, invoking the Kapu community in the process would prove politically fatal. 'Voters had already taught YSRCP a lesson two years ago,' he said, adding that if the party continued on the same path, it would 'cease to exist politically.'
What Happens Next
YSRCP leaders warned they would not remain silent if personal attacks against Jagan Mohan Reddy continued, and vowed to fight until justice was delivered to Kapus and other marginalised communities in Andhra Pradesh. With both sides digging in, the Kapu community — a significant electoral bloc in coastal Andhra — is likely to remain a flashpoint in the state's political discourse in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
The party is attempting to drive a wedge between the community and the TDP-Jana Sena coalition. The irony is that YSRCP's own record on Kapu reservations and the Kapu Corporation is contested — making the 'unfulfilled promises' charge a double-edged sword. Jana Sena's swift rebuttal signals that the ruling coalition will not cede the Kapu narrative without a fight.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is YSRCP demanding an apology from Pawan Kalyan?
YSRCP is demanding that Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan apologise to the Kapu community after he allegedly made derogatory remarks against its members and leaders. Party leaders belonging to the Kapu community say the comments amounted to insulting the entire community.
What are the 'diversion politics' allegations against Chandrababu Naidu?
YSRCP leaders allege that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is using Pawan Kalyan to shift public attention away from pressing issues — including custodial deaths, missing bodies, law and order failures, and alleged DSC irregularities — through personal attacks on opposition figures.
What promises to the Kapu community has Pawan Kalyan allegedly not fulfilled?
YSRCP leaders questioned Pawan Kalyan's silence on commitments made to the Kapu community, specifically Kapu reservations, the Kapu Nestham welfare scheme, and annual budget allocations to the Kapu Corporation.
How did Jana Sena respond to the YSRCP attack?
Jana Sena MLA P. Ramesh Babu warned that while YSRCP might gain attention by targeting Pawan Kalyan, invoking the Kapu community in doing so would prove politically fatal. He reminded the opposition that voters had already punished YSRCP two years ago.
Why does the Kapu community matter politically in Andhra Pradesh?
The Kapu community is a numerically significant caste group in coastal Andhra Pradesh and has historically been a key electoral bloc. Competing parties have long sought to claim its loyalty, making any perceived slight against Kapu leaders a potent political issue.
