Known for his straightforward talk, Telugu Desam Party MLA from Mylavaram assembly constituency Vasantha Krishna Prasad on Monday kicked up a storm by declaring that there is hardly any difference between Kamma and Kapu communities and calling for a unity between the two caste groups.
Speaking at a Kapu community meeting in Mylavaram, Krishna Prasad recalled that in his childhood, people often said, “Chinna Kammas are called Kapus, and big Kammas are the real Kammas.”
He explained that the distinction was traditionally based on landholding, not lineage — those with less land were called Kapus and those with more land Kammas.
“There is no real difference between the two castes. We have lived as brothers for generations, but political manipulation has driven us apart,” he said. “It’s now our collective responsibility to unite our children and strengthen social harmony.”
Addressing Jana Sena leader Samineni Udayabhanu, who was present at the event, Vasantha Krishna Prasad made a bold prediction: “It’s already too late to stop him. Udayabhanu is certain to become an MLA from NTR district in the next election and a minister with 100% certainty.”
Interestingly, Krishna Prasad is a Kamma and Udayabhanu is a Kapu leader. Both the leaders were in the YSR Congress party in the past.
While Krishna Prasad defected to the TDP, Udayabhanu jumped into the Jana Sena Party and was made in-charge of NTR district.
Krishna Prasad’s comments, linking both communities and endorsing a rival party’s leader, have triggered wide debate within Andhra’s political circles — highlighting the sensitive interplay between caste identity and electoral strategy.
