71 SOCIAL SCIENTIST NOTES AND REFERENCES 1. Surprisingly Kohli doesn't see Reddis and Kapus as separate caste entities though the Kapus had a distinct caste identity even as far back as 1920s. See 'Munnuru Kapu Kula Abhhudayam' by Bojjam Narasimlu, Munnuru Kapu Sangam, Hyderabad, 1970, p. 80. In Guntur, the Kapus like Kammas and Reddsi are another important peasant caste. They are dominant in certain parts of the district (Sattenapalli and Pedakurapadu areas) and have been trying to emerge as a distinct political force in the district. The Kapu elite in Guntur have taken an active part in organising the statewide convention of 'Kapus' in 1982 at Tenali, and another major convention, called 'Kapundadu' in 1988 at Vijayawada. Since 1982 the Kapus have become a major pressure group within the state demanding greater share in political power. For details, see Political Economy of Vijayawada Riots, a report published by Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee, 1989. 2. The numerical strength of Reddis is probably much less than what is suggested by Kohli, because in 1921 census reports (one of the important source of the author) no distinction was made between Kapu Reddi and another large caste simply known as Kapu (see Carolyn M Elliot, 'Caste and faction among the dominant caste; the Reddis and Kammas of Andhra', in Rajni Kothari (ed.), Caste in Indian Politics, Orient Longman, New Delhi, 1970, p. 167). 3. Local observers and Kapu leaders suggested this figure. 4. The Reddis are concentrated in Palnadu and Vinukonda areas (Macheria, Gurazala, Vinukonda and Narasaraopet Assembly constituencies). The Kapus are 'concentrated in Sattenapalli area (Sattenapalli and Pedakurapadu Assembly constituencies). 5. See Selig Harrison, India: the most dangerous decades, Princeton University Press, 1960, pp. 204-45. 6. I have collected the data from several sources. The data for the 1978, 1983 and 1985 Assembly elections were taken from the reports on general elections published in the years 1979, 1983, and 1985 by Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt of India. The data for 1987 local body elections were taken from the Andhra Pradesh Year Book 1988, published by Data Andhra Pradesh. The caste background of political elite was collected through interviews with local political leaders. Even though it further strengthens my arguments, the data of the 1989 Assembly elections are not included here for the period was not covered by the author. 7. Other categories include Brahmins, Muslims and Kapus. 8. For the first time in 1987, local body elections were held on political party basis. In these elections the TDP secured 658 Mandals out of 1090,42 Municipalities out of 106 and 19 out of 22 Zilla Praja Praishad seats. On the whole in these elections the TDP secured 48% of the popular vote maintaining its earlier support (in the 1985 Assembly elections it had secured 47%). For details of electoral performance of TDP in different elections, see D. Venkateswarlu, Telugu Desam: A new regional party in office, un-published M. Phil. dissertation. Department of Political Science, University of Hyderabad, 1988, pp. 52-56.