Play big brother role in 2024 election, Pawan Kalyan tells Kapus as he again justifies alliance with TDP

Interestingly, Pawan Kalyan also openly assured Muslims in the state that he would walk out of his alliance with BJP if there were any attacks on them or if they felt any insecurity in the state.

Apart from the Dalits and Christians, Muslims are also a strong traditional vote bank of the YSRCP.

Related: Anticipating TDP-Jana Sena tie-up, YSRCP targets BCs

Open appeal to Kapus

It is probably for the first time in his all his years in politics that Pawan Kalyan has openly sought the support of his Kapu community, asking them to ensure “their son” becomes the chief minister.

Pawan Kalyan and Chandrababu Naidu at the latter’s residence in Hyderabad on Sunday, 8 January, 2023. (Supplied)

He had made a passionate appeal to Kapus, who are concentrated in the Krishna, Guntur and the two Godavari districts, to play the role of a benevolent “big brother” and work with all communities to end the rule of YSRCP, a party dominated by the Reddys.

“I would have not looked at other parties like TDP if the state leaders of BJP had implemented the action plan as prepared by me and agreed by their central leadership. I had suggested the central leadership take out a long march in support of Amaravati. In the morning they agreed but by evening there was a change in the plan,” Pawan Kalyan said.

“I stood in support of the BJP in the Tirupati Lok Sabha by-poll and other places. This time, I’m not going to do any experiments and am not ready to be a scapegoat. From now on all my moves will be in a strategic manner. I don’t have any extra love towards TDP, but have respect for N Chandrababu Naidu as a former chief minister and an able administrator,” he said, pointing to the need for a united Opposition to dislodge the YSRCP.

“The Jana Sena is ready to go it alone, but alliances are important if we are to end the anarchic rule in Andhra Pradesh,” he added.

Also Read: The importance of Vangaveeti Ranga and his legacy

Why Kapus matter

Pawan Kalyan is expected to help consolidate votes of the Kapu community, estimated at about 15 percent of the state’s population — higher than the combined population of the Reddys, who dominate the YSRCP, and the Kammas, who are aligned to the TDP.

How the Kapu community votes is usually seen as the key in deciding the ultimate winner in any electoral joust in the state..

Though the Kapus are present in the Krishna and Guntur districts, they are highly concentrated in the delta districts of East and West Godavari, making their electoral impact quite conspicuous here.

There are as many as 34 Assembly seats in the East and West Godavari districts.

Related: YSRCP brainstorms to keep Kapu vote bank intact

Assurance to Muslims

Pawan Kalyan made a direct appeal to Muslims, asking them not to feel insecure in the state.

Pawan Kalyan with his campaign vehicle. (Twitter)

“They say that due to my alliance with BJP, Muslims are staying away from me and the Jana Sena and that’s why they are with YSRCP,” he noted.

“I assure all the Muslims in the state that they need not feel any insecurity about my alliance with BJP. I will walk out of the alliance if there are any attacks on them in the state. The YSRCP government has done nothing for Muslims in the state,” Pawan Kalyan said.

Earlier in the day, Pawan Kalyan reached Machilipatnam, 50 km from Vijayawada, for a huge rally in his newly launched poll campaign vehicle ‘Varahi’.

At many places, he was welcomed by his fans and followers showering flowers on it  as also onlookers curious about his much talked about campaign vehicle.