Is Pawan Kalyan A Trojan Horse Let Loose By TDP in AP?

Y Satyanarayana

Pawan Kalyan's focus on Telangana has left analysts and ringside observers nonplussed. The Jana Sena founder was never known for his passionate commitment to the cause of Telangana. If anything, he had batted for undivided Andhra Pradesh or samaikya Andhra. Given this background, when Pawan Kalyan gets mushy about Telangana, one finds it a bit cloying.

When the actor-turned -politician lavished praise on Telangana Chief Minister, K. Chandrasekhara Rao's 24 x 7 free power supply scheme to farmers, no one took Pawan all that seriously. After all, he was still a political greenhorn. Besides, uninterrupted free power supply to farmers was a bold, praiseworthy initiative. But, in the context of Telangana politics, the FAQ from the time he made the statement to this day is, Pawan Kalyan who?

Pawan Kalyan then likened the 'Jai Telangana' slogan to the battle cry of our freedom movement, Vande Mataram, and added that slogan gave him goosebumps, as was widely reported. Oh really! When the movement for a separate Telangana was at its peak, when students took to the streets, when NGOs and all several other sections of society spontaneously fought for a separate Telangana with KCR and TRS spearheading the struggle, one does not recall Pawan Kalyan being anywhere on the scene.

Also read: Does Pawan Kalyan Have An Answer To These Questions?

When KCR went on his hunger strike, did Pawan Kalyan, who now claims he always stood for Telangana call on him? And now, after being panned by both the Congress and the BJP, PK says that he would campaign for the Congress party if it proposes the name of V. Hanumantha Rao for CM! This statement itself contradicts his 'I love KCR' line from yesterday!

It is evident that Pawan Kalyan's statements are getting curiouser and curiouser.

The MRPS leader, Krishna Madiga rightly questioned his motives and pointed out that PK seemed to prefer backing the chief ministers of both the Telugu states--Chandrababu Naidu and KCR. Clearly, PK is no force in Telangana, no matter what his claims may be. As for AP, he is nothing to write home about, as yet. His foray into politics has been all too brief to merit any serious analysis. What stands out though, is that Pawan Kalyan's re-entry into politics on a seemingly 'serious' note, coincides with the success of the AP Leader of Opposition, YS Jagan's popular people's outreach programme, Praja Sankalpa Yatra, which has now entered Nellore after coursing its way through YSR district, Anantapur, Kurnool and Chittoor districts over the past 70 days. Wherever YS Jagan has gone, he has been received with great warmth and affection and people have poured out a litany of complaints about the misrule of the Chandrababu-led TDP government.The logical question that comes to mind is--why is Telangana the focus of Pawan Kalyan's political journey, (though it is too early to be characterised as a journey)? Is he so rattled by the success and popularity of the YSRCP President in AP that he does not want to take him on politically? Or is he a Trojan Horse let loose by the ruling TDP in AP to trick the people of the state?

Pawan's political fog index us very high, hence his vision appears to be lacking in clarity.