REPORTERS’ DIARY : Clean break with name or surname

Netas do make novel pledges or throw formidable challenges to win public admiration. In the high-profile keenly-fought electoral contest in Pithapuram, seasoned politician Mudragada Padmababham pledged during his campaign that he would change his name should Jana Sena President Pawan Kalyan win from the seat. From YSRCP former MP Vanga Geetha contested from this seat. Although it is not clear as to who will win from the seat, the followers of both the parties are claiming victory of their respective leaders. The larger, more interesting question doing the rounds in political circles is: How should Mudragada Padmababham modify his name if Pawan Kalyan wins.  Should he make a clean break with his first name or surname? Or, settle for a new combo?
Anti-Mudragada people say that he should change his name to ‘Padmanabha Reddy’ since he had joined YSRCP headed by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. The followers of Mudragada are very confident that such a situation will not arise for their leader in the first place. In the worst case scenario, they say, their leader must go with “Nabham MP” (Mudragada Padma implied), considering his role as an ace parliamentarian!