Pawan Kalyan, The Peter Pan of AP Politics

Y. Satyanarayana

He's a real nowhere man

Sitting in his nowhere land

Making all his nowhere plans for nobody

Doesn't have a point of view

Knows not where he's going to...

The opening lines of the memorable Beatles number of yesteryears fit Pawan Kalyan to the T. Who is the Jana Sena founder making all his plans for? Does he know where he belongs, politically speaking, or where he is headed, for that matter? And lastly, does he really have a point of view he can call his own. He is increasingly becoming the Nowhere Man of the Telugu states in politics.

It would be equally apt to characterize Pawan Kalyan as the Peter Pan of regional politics, or AP public life, rather. Like JM Barrie's fictional character, Pawan does not want to grow up. He can fly like Peter Pan, but his flights are mostly those of fancy and imagination. The Jana Sena chief tried to portray himself as a neutral player in AP politics, but his recent visit to Minister Paritala Sunita's house gave his game away. Pawan's mask of neutrality did not last for very long. It has been reported that he dropped broad hints about backing the ruling the TDP in AP.

If that is indeed the case, it amounts to PK endorsing the omissions and commissions of the TDP government. So, the obvious question whether he is a Trojan Horse unleashed by Chandrababu Naidu on the gullible people of Andhra Pradesh gains greater relevance.

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

Pawan Kalyan has seldom criticised the Chandrababu Naidu government. What does he have to say about the escalation of costs in the Polavaram project to as much as 58,000 crores which the TDP now expects the Centre to sanction? Latest press reports have it that this humongous amount is a part of TDP’s wish list for the 2018 budget. It is worth recalling that Chandrababu Naidu fought for the allocation of this project to AP, when it was actually the Centre's responsibility to complete it.

Does the Jana Sena founder think that he can really turn the tide at the hustings in Andhra Pradesh? Or is he out to split the votes? Surely, he can't hope to win on his own steam. Time alone will reveal his strategy, as also that of Chandrababu. Does PK think that he can convert his screen popularity into electoral success?

Read: Will Pawan Kalyan Turn Out To Be A Flash-In-The-Pan Politician?

Pawan's silence on several aspects related to the TDP rule in Andhra Pradesh is disturbing. On important issues related to corruption such as notes-for-votes, and the case of the 22 turncoat YSRCP MLAs, 4 of whom have been inducted into Chandrababu's cabinet, one does not recall Pawan expressing his views, as he normally tends to--quite vocally. Again, the swirling rumours of massive real estate scams centering around the new capital city of Amaravati have not elicited any reaction from the actor-turned-politician, who had declared that he would fight for the rights of farmers, if their lands were to be snatched away by the government.

Pawan Kalyan has maintained a stoic silence on all these critical subjects which involve corruption in the TDP regime. He once claimed that he was inspired by the revolutionary ideals of Che Guevara. How can we reconcile the two sides of his personality? Is it possible to be inspired by the revolutionary ideas of Che Guevara and tango with Chandrababu Naidu at the same time? Pawan Kalyan may not seem to realise this, but he is of no relevance in Telangana. He might want to cling on to KCR's popularity for unexplained reasons, but the truth of the matter is that the TRS leadership does not need PK. If anything he could be an albatross around the TRS' neck. Therefore, what he says about Telangana or about KCR is inconsequential.

Does Pawan Kalyan Have An Answer To These Questions?

However, it is difficult to reconcile what he publicly stated before 2014 on the issue of Telangana and KCR and juxtapose those statements with his current views on KCR which he has been trumpeting in recent days. While he now claims that Jai Telangana has the same resonance and evokes the same feeling that the clarion call of our independence movement, Vande Mataram does, we cannot help but wonder where these thoughts and feelings were earlier? If his heart now beats for Telangana why did he oppose its creation in the first place? These and many other questions will haunt PK in the days to come as his actions will come increasingly under the public eye and media glare as well.This time around it will be time for action in real life which will come under serious public scrutiny.