Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan has said he plans to step into Telangana politics, a move that has reignited talk of regionalism in the state and heated up the political arena.
Telangana was formed as a separate state in 2014 after its split from Andhra Pradesh, with BRS leader K. Chandrashekar Rao becoming the first Chief Minister. The report says the regional sentiment that dominated the separation period had gradually cooled, while Telangana is now ruled by Congress under Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
The latest flashpoint followed remarks by Telangana-based political commentator and professor Nageshwar, who claimed Pawan Kalyan had approached Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking help to arrest YSR Congress leader and former Andhra CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. Pawan Kalyan reacted sharply, and rumours circulated that the professor could be arrested by Andhra police, prompting local leaders to frame it as an attack on a “son of Telangana”.
Even as that controversy subsided, Pawan Kalyan announced a large public meeting in Telangana on June 2, the state’s formation day. Police denied permission citing law-and-order concerns, and it was later changed into a press interaction.
Ahead of his Hyderabad visit, Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and state Congress leader Mahesh Kumar Goud issued strong warnings, saying he would not be allowed to set foot in Telangana. Pawan Kalyan hit back, arguing that regionalism is more dangerous than terrorism, that Telangana is part of India and not anyone’s property, and that anyone can contest elections there; he also said Jana Sena would contest all elections in alliance with the BJP and that no one could stop him. Following this, parties including BRS and others intensified criticism, alleging attempts by Andhra leaders to dominate and dilute Telangana’s cultural, linguistic and historical identity, with analysts warning that old separation-era sentiments could be stirred again.
