Pawan Kalyan, A Hero On Screen Zero In Politics?

Reshmi AR

If the survey conducted by India Today Axis My India is any indication, Telugu Power Star Pawan Kalyan, it appears is in for a major shock in the theatre of politics. The survey put the actor-turned-politician and founder of Jana Sena at 5% miles behind YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy at 43% and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu at 38%.

Pawan Kalyan's image of a part-time politician is very much evident in the results of the survey. His connect with the people as a politician is certainly not as deep as his think-tank would have us believe.

The Jana Sena chief's political experience is also in question and his standing had been untested in the 2014 elections when he sailed along with the BJP and TDP. Now, when he is on his own footing, the survey reveals a mere 5% of the vote share to him which reduces him to a non-entity in the AP political scene.

Interestingly, Pawan has all along been projected as a powerful Kapu leader but the survey seems to suggest that he is not the single rallying point for the community. Is it because he is not been able to ventilate the grievances of the community and fight for its long standing demands of reservations? Or Is it because his crediblity as a politician is under cloud within his own community because of his lackaidisical approach to politics? Pawan Kalyan needs to get back to the drawing board fast and work on his image if he has to turn things around for Jana Sena in Andhra Pradesh, which as things stand looks very unlikely.

Also Read: AP Will Back YS Jagan For CM: Survey