TD bristles at Pawan barbs

New political wind blowing across AP

• Power Star’s episode indicates realignment of political forces in AP
• Political pundits feel that there is bigger game-plan behind Pawan’s outburst

Hyderabad: The war of words between the TDP and film actor-turned-politician Janasena leader Pawan Kalyan seems to be hotting up. If political circles are to be believed there is a bigger political game plan involved in it and the possibility of role of the BJP behind this is not ruled out.

Political analysts feel that the main reason for the sudden outburst of TDP leaders, including Union Minister Sujana Chowdary to the remarks of Pawan at a recent press conference in Hyderabad had tacit approval of TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu. The Union minister reacted sharply though Pawan did not name him and said that Pawan should first introspect what he had done for the State in last one year.

Reacting to Janasena leader Pawan Kalyan’s charge that the TDP MPs were not working for Andhra Pradesh, the Special Representative of the AP Government in New Delhi, K Rammohana Rao, listed out the painstaking efforts of the government in the last one year. Among which include securing clearances for the Polavaram ordinance to the release of funds from the 13th Finance Commission before they lapsed.

Meanwhile, followers of Pawan Kalyan held protests in Kakinada, Rajahmundry and Vijayawada. Pawan’s fans challenged TDP MPs and MLAs to resign and seek fresh election on their own. Pawan tweeted that by abusing him they cannot get special status and that he was ready to go to jail if need be.

He also said that there was nothing wrong in politicians doing business but politics should not be used to promote business interests. However, political circles see this as a part of a bigger game-plan and do not rule out the possibility of changing political equations.

It may be recalled that the BJP national president Amit Shah as part of the Maha Sampark Abhiyan directed the State Units in the South to resort to ‘activation’ of its dormant leaders and asked the units of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to gear up to take on the governments "in one form or the other".

Party sources here point out that the top brass is of the opinion that lying dormant or adopting a “seemingly friendly” posture with allies would boomerang on the party in the long run. The national party has told the State units that the fight with the rivals will be a direct one and could be started off whenever the local leadership feels the time is right.

In case of friendly parties, it has asked the State units to take on the government in one form or the other and occupy the political space where ever possible. In Andhra Pradesh, the party has already identified different segments that could be associated with it in the long run to its benefit which includes the social factor.

This is amply justified in the elevation of D Purandeswari as the party's Mahila in-charge and also in case of Muralidhar Rao, as the Yuva Morcha head. The third aspect is cultivating those with potential in the other parties but not happy with their present positions. It is in this background that Pawan Kalyan's episode should be seen, it is being said.

By:V Ramu Sarma