Published Jun 04, 2026 | 9:38 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 04, 2026 | 9:38 PM
Andhra Pradesh DyCM and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan. Credit: facebook.com/PawanKalyan
Synopsis: KVP Ramachandra Rao accused Pawan Kalyan of making baseless allegations and spreading falsehoods about the former Chief Minister. He asserted that YS Rajasekhara Reddy and the YSR Congress Party should not be treated as the same, and alleged that the JSP Sena chief, like many others, was failing to recognise the distinction.
Senior Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha member KVP Ramachandra Rao, on Thursday, 4 June, took strong exception to Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party (JSP) president Pawan Kalyan’s remarks against late Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy made on the occasion of Telangana Formation Day.
In an open letter, Rao, a close associate of the late YSR, accused Kalyan of making baseless allegations and spreading falsehoods about the former Chief Minister. He asserted that YS Rajasekhara Reddy and the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) should not be treated as the same, and alleged that the JSP Sena chief, like many others, was failing to recognise the distinction.
Describing the Deputy Chief Minister’s allegation as unrealistic and devoid of factual basis, Rao challenged him to substantiate the claim. He demanded that the police officer allegedly cited by Kalyan undergo a lie-detector test and announced that he was prepared to offer ₹10 crore if the allegation was proven true.
Referring to Kalyan’s claim that a senior police officer had informed him about an alleged conspiracy against him during YSR’s tenure, Rao said there was no evidence to support such an allegation.
He maintained that during 2005-06, when YSR and the Congress enjoyed overwhelming public support in the then undivided Andhra Pradesh, there was no political reason to target Kalyan, who was not actively involved in politics at the time.
Stating that he could not remain silent in the face of what he termed as false accusations being presented as facts, Rao urged Kalyan to provide evidence for his claims against YSR.
