Amaravati, July 15: Tensions escalated on Wednesday at the residence of former Andhra Pradesh minister Mudragada Padmanabham in Kakinada district’s Kirlampudi. His daughter, Baralapudi Kranti, arrived to pay her respects but was prevented by family members and supporters from touching her father’s body.
Reports indicate that prior to his passing on Tuesday, the Kapu leader expressed a wish that his daughter not be allowed to attend his funeral.
The rift between Mudragada Padmanabham and his daughter deepened during the 2024 assembly elections. At that time, Kranti openly supported Janasena Party leader Pawan Kalyan. She criticized her father’s statement, where he claimed he would change his name to “Padmanabham Reddy” if he failed to defeat Kalyan in the Pithapuram assembly seat. He also asserted that he would ensure Kalyan was ousted from Pithapuram.
Following Kalyan’s victory, Padmanabham changed his name to “Padmanabha Reddy.” It is also reported that he instructed his family to prevent Kranti from approaching his body after his death.
The former minister, who led a long-standing movement for reservations for the Kapu community, joined the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) just months before the 2024 assembly elections.
He passed away in Hyderabad after a prolonged illness on Tuesday. His body was brought to his residence in Kirlampudi that night.
In accordance with the deceased leader’s alleged final wish, his family and supporters requested police intervention to keep Kranti away from the body.
On Wednesday morning, police stopped Kranti and her supporters’ vehicles in Retipadu. When she sought permission to see her father one last time, police advised her to proceed to Kirlampudi with limited vehicles and without supporters.
The police escorted her to her father’s home, where family members and supporters protested and attempted to block her entry, chanting slogans against her.
Despite the police presence, Kranti managed to reach her father’s body. However, her mother expressed anger upon her arrival, blaming her for her husband’s death.
Kranti was ultimately not permitted to touch her father’s body, which was in a freezer coffin. After approximately two minutes, she left.
Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh government has decided to conduct the former minister’s funeral with state honors. The ceremony will take place on Wednesday evening in Kirlampudi.
This decision followed a telephone conversation between Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.
Mudragada Padmanabham served as a legislator four times, was a Member of Parliament once, and held ministerial positions in the state government. In recognition of his contributions to public life, the state government has opted for a state-honored funeral and has issued necessary directives to the relevant authorities.
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