In a dramatic turn of events, a former gram panchayat sarpanch from the Reddy community has raised objections to Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham’s decision to change his name to Padmanabha Reddy. The former sarpanch, Karri Venkatarama Reddy, questioned whether Mr. Padmanabham had sought the Reddy community’s consent before making such a significant change.
Mr. Padmanabham, a recent YSRCP member who campaigned vigorously against Jana Sena Party (JSP) chief K. Pawan Kalyan in the Pithapuram Assembly constituency, had vowed to adopt the Reddy surname if he failed to defeat Mr. Kalyan. Following the announcement of the election results last week, Mr. Padmanabham has initiated the process of officially adding ‘Reddy’ to his name.
In a letter released on Monday, Mr. Venkatarama Reddy, the former sarpanch of Koppavaram gram panchayat, expressed his strong disapproval. “Has anyone from the Reddy community given you consent to add ‘Reddy’ to your name? Why have you chosen our community’s name? Are you trying to weaken our community?” he questioned.
Koppavaram panchayat is located in the Anaparthi mandal of East Godavari district.
Mr. Venkatarama Reddy further urged the elders of the Reddy community to oppose Mr. Padmanabham’s attempt to change his name. “It is high time that all the elders of the Reddy community raise their voices against this move. There is no need for the Reddy community to welcome such an individual,” he asserted, appealing to community elders to reject Mr. Padmanabham’s name change.
