Coalition Dynamics on Display: TDP Puts Pawan in, Leaves Modi Out
The Telugu Desam Party's Facebook page frequently changes its headers. Until a few days ago, the page featured a photo of the Tiranga Yatra as the header. On the occasion of the coalition government in Andhra Pradesh completing one year in office, a new header was added to the page. Though this is a regular occurrence, one particular photo in it has now become a hot topic. Typically, the TDP page shares photos from party events and meetings between Chandrababu, Nara Lokesh, and leaders from other parties. This is common for any party. However, what the ruling TDP has done now seems rather strange. In the Facebook page header, they prominently featured photos of Chief Minister Chandrababu and Minister Nara Lokesh — which is usual. But this time, the inclusion of TDP Andhra Pradesh president Palla Srinivasa Rao and, notably, Jana Sena chief and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s photo has left even the party’s own leaders stunned.
There are criticisms emerging, questioning whether a party with such a long history like TDP should stoop so low before Pawan Kalyan. The header was posted to highlight the government’s achievements over the past year. But the other interesting point is that despite BJP being a coalition partner, a photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not included, which has now become a topic of discussion. If including Pawan Kalyan’s photo itself is a mistake, then omitting Modi’s photo while including Pawan’s is being criticized even more severely. It is well known that in the recently held Jana Sena formation day meeting, Pawan Kalyan claimed that in the recent elections, not only did he contest, but he also helped sustain the TDP, which has a 40-year legacy. Despite Pawan Kalyan making statements that could potentially damage the party, neither Chandrababu nor Nara Lokesh responded publicly. Now, by placing Pawan Kalyan’s photo in the TDP Facebook page header — something never done before — the TDP cadre are clearly displeased.
Even if they felt it was inappropriate to include Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the header, TDP leaders are questioning why at least BJP Andhra Pradesh president Daggubati Purandeswari’s photo wasn't included as a coalition partner. Meanwhile, in recent government advertisements, Nara Lokesh's photo is also being featured alongside Pawan Kalyan’s, even in contexts unrelated to Lokesh's department. Party leaders themselves say this is part of a strategy both in the government and within the party to project Nara Lokesh as the Number Two.
