The decision of Jana Sena Party chief and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan to stay away from the just-concluded Assembly session has become a major talking point in political circles. In fact, Pawan Kalyan was present at the Assembly complex o The decision of Jana Sena Party chief and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan to stay away from the just-concluded Assembly session has become a major talking point in political...
The decision of Jana Sena Party chief and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan to stay away from the just-concluded Assembly session has become a major talking point in political circles.
In fact, Pawan Kalyan was present at the Assembly complex on the last day of the monsoon session on Thursday. He was expected to introduce a bill related to the Panchayat Raj department and also participate in the debate on environmental pollution.
However, the Jana Sena chief stayed back in his chamber, held a meeting with party MLAs and other leaders on the upcoming local body elections, and left without entering the House.
Political observers are now questioning what message Pawan Kalyan is sending to his party leaders and coalition partners by repeatedly staying away from Assembly sessions and Cabinet meetings.
Pawan Kalyan has been openly projected by his supporters and sections of Jana Sena as a potential future Chief Minister. There is nothing unusual in a party chief aspiring for the top post.
However, questions are increasingly being raised over whether his conduct in government and the legislature matches the ambitions being attributed to him.
Under the present political equations in Andhra Pradesh, Jana Sena is unlikely to secure enough seats on its own to form a government in the foreseeable future unless there is a major political realignment.
As a result, Pawan Kalyan’s political future and his prospects of eventually becoming Chief Minister remain closely linked to the NDA alliance and his relationship with the Telugu Desam Party.
Pawan Kalyan has repeatedly stayed away from Cabinet meetings and Assembly sessions. His absence from the proceedings that concluded on Thursday has now added to the debate.
He had cited health issues for not attending the Assembly session. If he was genuinely unwell, there would naturally be little scope for criticism. But the fact that he came to the Assembly complex and still did not enter the House has fuelled rumours that he is unhappy with the TDP leadership.
A Jana Sena leader was reportedly quoted as questioning what message the Deputy Chief Minister was sending to the public by coming to the Assembly premises while the House was in session, holding a meeting with party legislators and then leaving without attending the proceedings.
Pawan Kalyan’s attendance record has also come under scrutiny in the context of Cabinet meetings, Assembly sessions and meetings involving district collectors.
His Panchayat Raj portfolio is considered one of the important departments in the state government. Yet, during the previous Budget session too, he was reportedly absent for most of the proceedings.
The issue is also said to be under discussion within Jana Sena itself.
Some party leaders are reportedly wondering whether voters could question the value of electing a leader who is not consistently available for Assembly proceedings and important government meetings if, at a later stage, Pawan Kalyan seeks votes independently or asks people to support Jana Sena candidates.
At the same time, political circles are discussing whether Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is in a difficult position because of Pawan Kalyan’s importance within the coalition.
There is a perception in some quarters that the TDP leadership has limited room to publicly question the Jana Sena chief’s decisions because maintaining the alliance remains politically important.
However, the emerging view among several political observers is that Pawan Kalyan’s style of functioning could ultimately cause greater political damage to him and Jana Sena than to the TDP.
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