Why Are Telangana Parties So Worried About Pawan

Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan’s announcement that his party will remain firm in Telangana and contest the next elections has evoked sharp reactions from Telangana activists as well as some political parties.

While the Bharatiya Janata Party has supported Pawan Kalyan, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, which is hoping for an understanding with the BJP, gave only a mild response to his aggressive comments on Telangana activists.

It also said there are no hurdles for the Jana Sena Party to contest elections in Telangana.

However, the strongest opposition has come from the Congress and the Telangana Rakshana Sena, headed by Kalvakuntla Kavitha.

Both parties took strong exception to the launch of the Jana Sena office in Hyderabad, which signalled Pawan Kalyan’s firm entry into Telangana politics.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Mahesh Kumar Goud described the development as a conspiracy by the BJP, which, he said, is trying to strengthen its base in Telangana by projecting Pawan Kalyan as a political force.

He asserted that the BJP has no significant space in Telangana and expressed confidence that the Congress would return to power.

The reaction from TRS founder-president Kavitha was much stronger.

At a press conference in Hanamkonda, she repeatedly warned Pawan Kalyan against involving himself in Telangana politics and asserted that the Jana Sena Party should stay away from political activities in the state.

Kavitha’s remarks went beyond routine political criticism.

She invoked the Telangana movement, recalled the sacrifices made for statehood and argued that leaders from Andhra Pradesh should not play a role in shaping Telangana’s political future.

This raises the question: why are the Congress and the TRS so worried about Pawan Kalyan’s entry into Telangana, and why are they giving him so much importance?

In fact, the Jana Sena Party has contested Assembly elections in Telangana earlier, both in 2018 and 2023. It also contested recent municipal elections in some places.

Given the strong Telangana sentiment, it is quite clear that Pawan Kalyan may not become a major political force in the state. So why are these parties worried?

Analysts say the next Assembly elections could witness a tight fight, with the Congress going all out to retain power.

In such a situation, even a small split in Congress votes could damage its prospects, particularly in urban areas and among young voters.

The Congress is apprehensive that the Pawan Kalyan factor could indirectly help the BJP by turning some votes towards the saffron party.

As far as Kavitha is concerned, her newly launched TRS is trying to position itself as a strong opposition force against the Congress government. For her, Pawan Kalyan could become a nuisance factor.

She fears that he may split anti-establishment votes and complicate existing political equations.

Kavitha has repeatedly stated that Telangana needs a strong opposition and that the TRS was formed to fill that vacuum.

If Jana Sena begins contesting elections independently or in alliance with the BJP, it could fragment votes that regional parties hope to consolidate against the ruling Congress.

Both the Congress and the TRS appear to believe that Jana Sena could attract a section of young voters, first-time voters and Pawan Kalyan’s large fan base, particularly in Hyderabad and other urban centres.

“Telangana has a significant population with roots in Andhra Pradesh, and Pawan Kalyan continues to enjoy considerable popularity among sections of the youth,” an analyst said.

Some analysts also point out that Kavitha’s repeated references to Telangana identity and her warnings against “outside interference” suggest an attempt to draw a clear political boundary between Telangana-based parties and leaders from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

Such a strategy could be aimed at preventing any erosion of support among voters who strongly identify with the Telangana statehood movement.

Neither the Congress nor the TRS has explicitly stated that Jana Sena poses an electoral threat.

However, the strong reactions from both parties immediately after the inauguration of the Hyderabad office have fuelled speculation that Pawan Kalyan’s political activities in Telangana are being viewed with greater seriousness than before.