In his bid to bolster his stature, the film star-turned-politician has been quick to seize every opportunity that presents itself. Since assuming the role of deputy chief minister, Kalyan has repeatedly embarrassed the government with his public demands for reforms, often targeting decisions made by his own administration.
Published Jan 12, 2025 | 6:00 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 12, 2025 | 6:00 PM
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan is attempting to establish himself as a major political force in the state. His moves suggest he may be preparing to stake a claim for the chief ministerial post in the next elections.
Kalyan appears to believe he has a magnetic pull among the people. His belief seems rooted in his 100 percent strike rate in the last general elections, where his party, the Jana Sena, won all 21 Assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats contested in alliance with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In his quest to enhance his stature, the film star-turned-politician is seizing every opportunity that comes his way.
Kalyan, who once claimed he was above caste and regional considerations and treated all communities equally, embraced the cause of Sanatana Dharma after his alliance with the BJP in the last elections.
Unlike any other leader, including the chief minister, Kalyan reacted sharply to the recent stampede in Tirupati during the distribution of tokens for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam. He apologised to the victims’ families and squarely blamed the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board for the tragedy.
He also called on the board chairman and members to apologise directly to the families. Kalyan said both he and the chief minister were taking public criticism due to the board’s failure to ensure proper arrangements, which he said led to the disaster. He further alleged a lack of coordination between the board chairman, its members, and officials as a key factor.
Speaking later at a ceremony in Pithapuram, Kalyan made similar remarks, indirectly criticising TTD chairman BR Naidu. Responding to Naidu’s comments about whether apologies could bring back lives, Kalyan, seemingly upset by the remark, reportedly took the matter up with the chief minister, who then urged the TTD chairman to apologise to the victims’ families.
Similarly, in September 2024, when doubts were raised about the use of ghee containing animal fat in the Tirumala srivari laddu prasadam, Kalyan’s response was unlike that of anyone else. He declared his commitment to protecting Sanatana Dharma and undertook a penance Deeksha to atone for what he saw as sacrilege in Tirumala.
Clad in saffron robes and advocating for the sanctity of Hindu places of worship, Kalyan undertook the Kali Bata journey to the Tirumala shrine, despite being slowed down by fatigue.
There, he addressed a massive public gathering, portraying himself as a defender of Sanatana Dharma not just in Andhra Pradesh but across South India. This raised speculation that he was acting at the behest of the BJP, with which he shares a close relationship.
While the TDP has traditionally avoided Hindutva and related movements, Kalyan appears to have gained traction among Hindu voters. His popularity as an actor and leader of the Jana Sena Party, combined with support by Hindutva workers, could cement his position as an unassailable leader.
Since becoming deputy chief minister, Kalyan has caused the government embarrassment several times with his very public calls for administrative reforms.
A TDP MLA in West Godavari noted: “Chandrababu Naidu is not taking action against [Former Chief Minister] Jagan Mohan Reddy for fear of being dubbed as one practising politics of vendetta. This is making the TDP cadres restive.
“In this context, Pawan Kalyan’s face-off with Jagan Mohan Reddy might earn him brownie points with even the TDP cadres.”
Political analyst N Ravi Kumar from Eluru observed that the BJP, wary of fully trusting the TDP but hesitant to abandon it, seems to be promoting Kalyan as a counterweight to Chandrababu Naidu. “The very fact that Pawan Kalyan, while being in the government keeps questioning it, only goes to make one suspect that it was the BJP’s game plan, ” Kumar said.
In one instance, Kalyan ”raided” a ship in Kakinada port, alleging ration rice was being smuggled to Africa, even though his Jana Sena colleague Nadendla Manohar, serves as the civil supplies minister. Kalyan criticised the civil supplies department, claiming smugglers were thriving, despite his authority over the minister.
Later, in a fiery public speech, Kalyan warned Home Minister V Anita that he might take over her portfolio if she failed to address YSRCP activists maligning TDP and Jana Sena leaders on social media platforms.
Kalyan’s antics seem to be helping him build an image as a leader with panache, but whether he will emerge as a figure taller than the chief minister remains to be seen.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
