With by-polls to 18 assembly constituencies round the corner, the Telugu Desam Party is reportedly trying to please kapu leaders. The party supremo Chandrababu Naidu has assured a group of leaders from kapu community in Guntur district that kapus would be given priority in the by-polls. This act seems to be a move to put a check to YSR Congress party Jagan apparently started operation kamma a few days back to woo leaders from kamma community.

The sources said Chandrababu Naidu accepted that kapus were alienated from party activities for quite sometime. Notably, Padma Bhushan Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party apparently gave a blow to TDP’s kapu vote bank.

It may be noted that Chandrababu Naidu on Monday met the former minister Aruna and Chandu Sambasiva Rao at his residence in Hyderabad on Monday. Both these leaders are from kapu community.

After a meeting with Babu, Aruna told the media that the gap between the kapus and TDP would soon be bridged. Senior TDP leader Umareddy Venkateshwarlu has however restrained himself from attending the meeting alleging that there was no social justice in the party.

All in all, TDP assuring importance to kapus in by-polls is most likely to bring back the kapu vote bank to the party. Political observers are, however, keeping their fingers crossed thinking whether Babu’s new strategy would have an impact on vote bank. (Phani)