An eminent leader of the Kapu Movement and a former minister Mudrgada Padmanabham has passed away while undergoing treatment in Sindhu Hospital in Hyderabad due to his prolonged illness, suffering from both chronic disease.

Mudragada Padmanabham was born on January 22, 1953, in Kirlampudi, East Godavari district, where he made a unique place for himself in public life. In 1978, he started off his career in politics by winning as MLA from the Prathipadu constituency. Afterward, he contested from the Telugu Desam Party and became a minister in the government formed by N. T. Rama Rao.

During his lifetime, he worked for public welfare and represented people’s interests, being elected as MLA six times and once as a Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from Kakinada in 1999. Other than this, he became popular as a leader who led the movement for the rights of the Kapu people.