Vijayawada: Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan appears to have changed his stand on having a political alliance with the Telugu Desam as the BJP top leadership has put a spoke into his wheel in the run- up to the Assembly and Parliament polls in Andhra Pradesh.
Pawan Kalyan had claimed he would forge an alliance with Telugu Desam even as he partnered with the BJP. He held talks with TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu repeatedly. In these talks, he had made clear he would not claim the post of CM unless his party won more than 35 seats. However, in recent days, he reversed his decision and said he wanted to become CM.
Also, he would take a decision on a poll alliance with the TD at an appropriate time, he said, addressing a public meeting at Kathipudi while kicking off his AP tour on his specially made Varahi campaign vehicle this week.
BJP sources say that he has been advised to be mindful of his words about his alliances, especially in relation to TD. The BJP had, since 2019, been keeping a distance from the TD after Naidu targeted PM Modi and joined the opposition bandwagon to unseat the BJP from power at the Centre.
The AP BJP leaders, however, maintain that they have no say on their party’s alliance with Jana Sena or with others. Such decisions would come from Delhi.
Notably, Pawan Kayan changed his tone and tenor while addressing the public and perhaps softened a bit in his anti-YSR Congress tirades. He made a fervent appeal to the voters to give him one chance to hold power and sought the support of his community especially from Godavari districts. Notably, again, his Jana Sena had scored a duck in the 2019 polls.
Pawan Kalyan is often seen as being indecisive in politics and wavering.
Noted film producer Ram Gopal Varma tweeted, “Power Star begging with tears for one chance, is making his heroism into zeroism in the hearts of both his fans and caste.”
While Pawan Kalyan’s supporters are happy that he wants to be CM, they are also seeking clarity on his alliance partners so that they plunge actively into campaign mode.
Political analysts pooh-poohed Pawan Kalyan for attempting to sail on two boats – that he wanted to have one foot in politics and another in films. He had justified his continued roles in the films, saying he hence wanted to raise funds and support the party. Critics however note that politics cannot be part-time engagement for one who runs a party. Pawan Kayan is currently having four films in the production stage.
Jana Sena senior leader Kandula Durgesh affirmed, “As we have a commitment to make AP free from the ruling YSRC, we will join with like-minded parties in the coming elections and realise our goal. It is a matter of time before our party chief makes an announcement in this respect.”
