Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena’s fate will be same as Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party

A political party is born out of the discontent and frustration of masses with a corrupt political dispensation and the leader of such a political party must have high moral standards, a proven record of self- effacing service, the ability to inspire the betrayed masses with a definite ideology and a well- defined agenda, the capability to offer a vision of change and above all the expertise to connect with the masses and dismantle abstract ideas into graspable actions.

The launching of the Jana Sena by popular a cine artiste, though appreciable, has raised more questions than answers. His key pledge is not to end endemic corruption that had become symptomatic, check runaway inflation and provide sound, transparent and responsive governance. His inveterate hostility and hatred is not against systemic failure but only against the congress party for the only blunder of hastening the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The Jana Sena’s vision is not even of decentralized and participatory governance, as is the case with Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party. Besides,Pawan kalyan has not even demonstrated the ability even to tap into the growing discontent between the political leaders and people. Unlike the AAP, the Jana Sena hasn’t broken the mould or started a discourse on the greater inclusion of public opinion in policy making.

It is common knowledge that behind PawanKalyan’s launch of the Jana Sena is his utter disillusionment of and shock at the unethical and opportunistic merger of his brother’s Praja Rajyam party with the scam-ridden and corrupt Congress party. To him, Chiranjeevi’s betrayal of millions of his admirers in general and of all Andhras who fondly expected him to resign from the union cabinet over the sudden imposition of the bifurcation of AP looked nothing but a political hara kiri of a political ignoramus. The megastar’s political naivety and over-vaulting ambitions to occupy the chief minister’ gaddi with a Kapu lable on his khaddar ‘kanduva’ stood in utter contrast to his image of a good Samaritan on the silver screen mouthing high decibel sermons and beating the wicked to pulp. The yawning gap between the real life and the reel life of Chiranjeevi must have hastened the impatient and emotion driven Pawan Kalyan into launching a political party solely targeting the Congress Party without even the much-needed organizational muscle or ideological baggage.

It is also felt that Pawan Kalyan should have committed himself to the cause of a united AP the moment Mr Chidambaram announced the resolve of the Central Government to carve out Telangana despite opposition to it from the common man in Seemandhra. The Bifurcation bill was obviously rushed through in 23 minutes, but the discussion preceding it was decades old. His long procrastination to take up cudgels simply betrays his Hamletian mental makeup which lands a fledgling politician nowhere. Introducing neither a definite ideology nor advocating a specific agenda, he occupied the entire stage to the total exclusion of his supporters or ideologues, delivered a two-hour long demagoguery, raised the tempo of euphoria of the teenaged cine fans and sprinkled his incoherent monologue like speech with quotes on revolutionary leaders of India and other countries. His public persona on the entire stage and body language showed a megalo maniacal obsession–a trait that every cine actor turned politician shares. Is it a mere megalomania or a dictatorial propensity or a blatant demonstration of a personality cult and highly personalized politics? His demagoguery laced with innuendos and sarcastic punches smacked of a histrionic attempt rather to play to the gallery and incite the cine crazy gaggle than to commit himself to definite ideals and goals expected of a nascent party. His passionate speech was also lacking in clarity concerning its readiness in fielding candidates and the requisite qualifications. Does he field the aam aadmi or intellectuals or the migratory birds or cine industrialists or social activists? Further, one wonders whether his dependence on the social network could be a substitute for the much-needed contact at the grass root level. He should realize that the adulation of his fans does not transform into a massive votes and the electoral outcome is dependent on mere political arithmetic based along the lines of one’s caste and religion.

Above all, his soft corner for his megastar brother is rather misplaced. In the Machiavellian world of a discredited and demoralized Congress party, he is only a mini politician and a pawn in the game of political dice of the Congress party. The moment the electoral outcome comes against the Congress-led UPA-11, Chiranjeevi will be discarded and thrown on to the dung heap of history. Pawan Kalyan is acutely aware that his brother Chiranjeevi had tantalized millions of masses and they, in turn, looked up to him as the Messiah. His brother’s betrayal of the unsuspecting and gullible masses without even an iota of scruple confirmed the worst suspicions and fears of Pawan Kalyan and that, Chiranjeevi would soon find himself in political wilderness. Political analysts suspect that the Jana Sena will soon be another Praja Rajyam in disguise, with only a different flag and another leader from the same family. PawanKalyan’s sarcastic references to his multiple marriages are laughably irrelevant in the context of floating a new party as millions of masses are worried only about their daily needs such as food, shelter, healthcare and drinking water and have no time to inquire into the private life of cine artistes.

Pawan Kalyan should also know that mere references to revolutionary leaders like Bhagat Singh may enliven a demagogic speech, but not convince the masses of the credibility of the present day politicians. Pawan Kalyan’s tirade against the extortion and intimidation strategies for self-aggrandisement is long delayed. He should have enlisted the support of the cine fraternity then and there. Doesn’t he act till he is affected? It is also felt that his anti –Congress stance has already put him into the fold of other parties which have an equally if not worse than ignominous history.

Pawan Kalyan’s JanaSena is not comparable with even the TDP launched by NTR, who gained to fame and power when there was huge political vacuum and political spacing. PawanKalyan should realize that consolidation of a political party and carrying conviction with the masses as a leader is a hundred times more diffcuilt than making oneself a movie artiste. After all, nowadays, any Tom, Dicky or Harry can become a star provided he enjoys the support of his family or caste.

The author is a retired professor.

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