In the dated video, Pawan was seen saying there was no point in visiting Davos, wearing suits and setting up pavilions to attract investments, claiming that investments could not be landed that way.
Published Jan 27, 2025 | 3:19 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 27, 2025 | 3:19 PM
Andhra Dy CM Pawan Kalyan.
After the advent of technology, the job of mischief makers has become easy. A couple of days ago, a video of Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan went viral on social media platforms.
The matinee idol was seen talking eloquently about the futility of looking for investments in Switzerland’s Davos, during the annual meetings of the World Economic Forum (WEF).
The video captured eyeballs since a storm has already been brewing amongst the Jana Sena cadres over the importance given to Information Technology Minister Nara Lokesh in the state government at the expense of their party chief Pawan Kalyan.
When the TDP leaders began voicing the demand that Lokesh — son of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu — should be promoted to deputy chief minister, Jana Sena workers felt as though they had swallowed a bee.
They could not bear the prospect of Lokesh becoming the deputy chief minister. Jana Sena workers hit back saying that they may not object if Lokesh becomes the deputy chief minister but for that to happen, first Pawan Kalyan has to become chief minister. Then, what should happen to Chandrababu Naidu? That question was left unanswered.
The underlying message is clear — Lokesh is not equal to Pawan Kalyan. Jana Sean legions say they would not agree with the possibility of Pawan Kalyan playing second fiddle to Lokesh. With Chandrababu Naidu it is different. He is a tall ladder and the political chemistry between the two had worked fine but not with Lokesh.
Certain actions that Chandrababu Naidu, however well-meaning they might be, are making the Jana Sea flock to look at them suspiciously. When Ratan Tata died, Chandrababu Naidu air-dashed to Mumbai to attend his funeral with Lokesh in tow.
Pawan Kalyan was ignored though he is the deputy chief minister. Again, when Chandrababu Naidu left for Davos to attend the WEF meeting, Pawan Kalyan was left behind. It was Lokesh and Industry Minister Bharat who were part of Naidu’s entourage.
As Pawan Kalyan’s video hit social media questioning the government going on a wild goose chase in Davos for investments, an impression began gaining ground that the tussle between him and Chandrababu Naidu had reached a flash point.
In the video, Pawan Kalyan was seen saying there was no point in visiting Davos, wearing suits and setting up pavilions to attract investments, claiming that investments could not be landed that way.
“Further, what is there in Andhra Pradesh for the foreign businessmen to invest? If the climate in Andhra Pradesh is good for investments, you do not have to make any effort. Investors themselves would flock to Andhra Pradesh,” Pawan Kalyan was seen saying in the video.
Later, it became known that the video was not intended against Chandrababu Naidu’s visit to Davos but it was shot and released when YS Jagna Mohan Reddy, as chief minister, was visiting the Swiss city to land investments.
For Pawan Kalyan’s adversaries, the video was a handy tool to create fissures between him and Chandrababu Naidu. The timing was right as already reports were swarming in cyberspace that both leaders were at loggerheads.
The re-release of the video could have been the handiwork of Pawan Kalyan’s rival YSRCP or his die-hard fans who want him to move out of Chandrababu Naidu’s shadow and shine independently. Whoever is behind its circulation and whatever their motive is, the video did create some commotion.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
