Former Andhra Pradesh minister and YSR Congress Party leader Mudragada Padmanabham, a prominent figure in the Kapu community, passed away at the age of 73 after a brief illness. He breathed his last at a private hospital in Hyderabad.
Born in Kirlampudi in the combined East Godavari district on January 22, 1953, Padmanabham entered active politics in 1977 and served as an MLA in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly in 1978. He was associated with various political parties, including the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Praja Rakshana Samithi.
Padmanabham, who also led the movement for reservation for the Kapu community, had a significant political career, being elected to the Lok Sabha from Kakinada in 1999. He later joined the YSR Congress Party before the 2024 elections.
Leaders from across party lines in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have expressed their condolences over Padmanabham’s demise. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan were among those who conveyed their sympathies.
Former Chief Minister and YSRCP President Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy also mourned Padmanabham’s sudden passing, acknowledging his dedicated service to the people. He extended his deepest sympathies to Padmanabham’s family and prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace.
