Caste rules in politics: Pawan Kalyan

Vijayawada: Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan on Sunday expressed concern over the falling standards of politics in the State, which has been reduced to a conflict between two dominant castes.

Interacting with party men in Jana Sena state headquarters, Pawan Kalyan exuded confidence that the future belonged to Jana Sena as it alone could provide alternative politics that did not discriminate between caste, region and religions.

He called upon youth to join the party and work for a society where caste and religion have no role in deciding which party should rule. “It is a shame that leaders belonging to the two parties are abusing each other in the name of caste,” he said.

Defending the party’s decision to align with BJP, he said that some leaders cautioned him against aligning with BJP as it could lose support of minorities. “I never think on the lines of whether minority or majority supports us or not as state interest is the priority”, he said.

Pawan Kalyan lamented that people supported Jana Sena before elections and took part in large numbers whenever he gave a call but the support did not translate into votes, which, he felt, was because the voters were influenced in the name of caste or monetary benefits. People lose right to question the politician once they accept money from the former. The YCP representatives have been turning away from demands to deliver the electoral promises, he said.

Taking a dig at Telugu Desam, the Jana Sena chief said the party got 40 per cent vote but is too weak to take on the ruling party. The votes it got are perhaps purchased by spending huge amounts. Jana Sena might have lost elections but won people’s heart as was evident from lakhs of people voluntarily turning up at two events – long march in Visakhapatnam and a public meeting seeking justice to rape victims in Kurnool – even after the party got drubbed in the last general elections, he pointed out.