Pawan grabs public attention via Vizag episode while TD takes backseat

VIJAYAWADA: Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan has succeeded in grabbing the people’s attention towards his party via the Vizag incidents on Saturday, while the principal opposition Telugu Desam took the backseat.

The ruling YSR Congress held a massive rally styled as ‘Visakha Garjana’, which was a big hit despite the downpour. Meanwhile, the principal opposition, Telugu Desam, held a roundtable meeting on North Andhra developments but failed to attract much attention to it.

Pawan drew much attention by conducting an open car rally and holding the Prajavani programmes amid controversies, ruckuses and police interventions to dampen his spirits.

At another level, the Amaravati-Arasavalli padayatra was under progress for the past one month. The participants faced ire in some places along the coastal districts. The yatra would soon enter North Andhra districts. Analysts note that there are no chances of resolving the capital issue in the immediate future despite the protests from pro-Amaravati activists including farmers as also members of the Telugu Desam and all other opposition parties.

It was against this backdrop that the YSRC decided to take the cause of decentralised development to the masses, with an eye also on the next assembly polls.

While the non-political JAC played a crucial role in the establishment of Telangana state, the same strategy is now being followed by chief minister Jagan Reddy in AP. The formation of NPJAC in AP is aimed at getting  support to the CM for decentralization, from political parties, organisations, unions and associations.

On the one side, the NPJAC called for a Visakha Garjana to take the cause forward. In order to counter the Garjana, the TD held a roundtable meeting in Visakhapatnam but it failed in the face of the mega rally of the YSRC.

The JS was waiting in the wings. As per schedule, Pawan who arrived in Visakhapatnam was to go to a hotel by car directly from the airport to hold a meeting with party leaders on Saturday. He was scheduled to hold the Prajavani grievances programme on Sunday.

Pawan fans in large numbers gathered around the airport, raising ‘Pawan CM, CM’ slogans. The actor-turned-politician did his road show with the support of his fans in a top-open vehicle for four to five hours. This jammed the roads. Jana Sainiks, or Pawan supporters, tried to obstruct the path for state ministers and allegedly threw stones at them, damaging their cars.

By midnight, the police conducted checks in the hotel where Pawan was staying on Saturday. Cops took several JS leaders into custody for the attack on ministers. The arrests angered Pawan and he decided to stay on in Vizag till the unconditional release of all the arrested Jana Sena leaders. This, despite Pawan receiving the 41A notice from the police.

Notably, the high-pitched programmes of the Jana Sena gained much public attention while the TD failed to make a mark. All attention from the public went towards Pawan on Saturday and Sunday.

Some political analysts say actor Pawan is maturing as a leader by using the circumstances in his favour and attracting the masses. Pawan is a ‘Crowd Puller’ and he showed his strength through the Vizag offensive. The TD, which first showed an interest to have a poll alliance with the JS, later changed its decision.

Pawan, by his actions in the past two days, sent out a warning to the TD and other political parties against underestimating the Jana Sena and his popularity.