Was the ruling alliance in Andhra Pradesh on the verge of collapse, only to be saved at the last minute? According to TDP leaders, the answer appears to be yes. They say that Jana Sena chief and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s unreasonable demands had even frustrated TDP chief and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. Ever since the alliance came to power, Pawan Kalyan had been publicly stating, even without anyone asking him, that the alliance would remain in power for another 15 years and that Chandrababu Naidu would continue as Chief Minister. These statements did not go down well with Jana Sena leaders and cadre. Nevertheless, Pawan Kalyan did not stop and continued making similar remarks in public until very recently. However, highly reliable sources revealed that Pawan Kalyan’s approach after preparations for the local body elections began reportedly came as a shock even to TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu. The sources said Chandrababu had made it clear that continuing like this would be difficult and that both parties would have to go their separate ways if they could not work together.

                                                    When TDP Andhra Pradesh president Palla Srinivasa Rao and Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu went to meet Jana Sena chief and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan for discussions, he reportedly brought up past incidents and spoke in a markedly different manner. Highly reliable sources within the TDP revealed that the two leaders conveyed these developments to Chandrababu Naidu. Subsequently, Minister Nadendla Manohar and some other leaders also came on behalf of Jana Sena to hold discussions with the TDP. With the TDP in no position to accept the demands being made by Jana Sena, it also sent Pawan Kalyan a clear signal that the parties would have to go their separate ways if things continued this way. To increase pressure on the TDP, Jana Sena reportedly got its MLAs and other leaders to post on social media demanding 40 per cent of the seats. The demand was also widely publicised. When it comes to making compromises for political gains and power, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is usually at the forefront. He does not pay much attention to what party leaders and cadre might think or how the public might perceive such decisions. However, even Chandrababu has been greatly irritated by Pawan Kalyan, a senior TDP leader revealed.

                                                 TDP leaders allege that Jana Sena and its chief, Pawan Kalyan, are attempting to dominate both the TDP and the government. On the one hand, Pawan Kalyan has been saying that Chandrababu Naidu should remain Chief Minister for 15 years. On the other hand, he has also made statements claiming that he was the one who had sustained the 40-year-old TDP and that, when everyone was afraid following Chandrababu’s arrest, it was his own people who came out in support. Although no key TDP leaders openly responded to these remarks, TDP supporters and cadre strongly criticised Pawan Kalyan on social media. Despite being the Deputy Chief Minister, Pawan Kalyan has also made public remarks about members of his own Cabinet that, according to critics, have damaged the government’s image.

                                     Political circles are increasingly discussing how Pawan Kalyan’s conduct has changed completely since the alliance came to power. He is said to trust no one easily and to view everyone with suspicion. It remains to be seen how the developments between the two parties during the local body election preparations will shape their political relationship in the future. TDP leaders believe that Pawan Kalyan’s approach has changed considerably compared with the past. Within the TDP, there is also discussion that the conduct of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Nara Lokesh is a major reason behind this change.

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