Senior Politician Changes Name After Poll Defeat, Points to Abuses from Rivals

Senior YSRCP leader, Mudragada Padmanabham, has changed his name to 'Padmanabha Reddy' fulfilling an election campaign pledge following the victory of Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan in the Pithapuram Assembly constituency. Reddy stated the name change was voluntary but also highlighted ongoing abuses from Kalyan's supporters.

Senior YSRCP leader Mudragada Padmanabham has officially changed his name to 'Padmanabha Reddy', fulfilling his pledge made during the election campaign, after he failed to ensure the defeat of Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan in the recently concluded Assembly polls.

The septuagenarian changed his name following Kalyan's victory from Pithapuram Assembly constituency.

In the run-up to the polls, the YSRCP leader had challenged that he would defeat Kalyan. "Nobody forced me to change my name. I have changed it on my own volition," Reddy told the media.

However, he complained that the Janasena chief's fans and followers were allegedly abusing him.

"The youth who love you (Kalyan) are incessantly dropping expletive messages. In my view, this is not right. Rather than abusing, do one thing…eliminate us (all family members)," said Reddy.

Reddy, a prominent Kapu community leader and former minister, has campaigned for Kapu reservation and joined the YSRCP a few months before the elections.

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