VIJAYAWADA: Lambasting the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for joining hands with the Congress, Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan said it would not be a wonder if Chandrababu Naidu joins hands with even the YSR Congress.
Addressing a well-attended public meeting at Tuni of East Godavari district on Friday following his train journey from Vijayawada as part of his public outreach, Pawan Kalyan said he differed with his brother Chiranjeevi for merging Praja Rajyam Party with the Congress and floated Jana Sena with the slogan ‘Congress Hatao Desh Bachao’.
“In 2014, I supported the TDP, thinking that it would be good for Andhra Pradesh, which became a victim of irrational bifurcation of the State by the Congress. Today, that very party joins hands with the Congress,” he said, adding he was pained by the development. The actor-turned-politician reiterated that he would never be like TDP and mortgage ‘self-respect of Andhras’ in Delhi. “BJP chief Amit Shah has asked me to merge Jana Sena with his party, but I said I would rather die than merge Jana Sena with any other party.” Recalling how Andhra MPs were literally thrashed in the Lok Sabha during the passage of AP Reorganisation Bill, he wondered whether the TDP had no sense of shame. “Are you not ashamed? Don’t you have any self-respect?”
Jana Sena chief said alliance between the TDP and the Congress was only for the personal benefit of Chandrababu Naidu and not for the Telugu people. “It is not even for the benefit of the TDP or Andhra Pradesh.”He recalled that he differed with his own brother (former Union Minister K Chiranjeevi) when the latter joined the Congress only to protect the State interests. “We have to safeguard our self-respect. Our stand should, hence, be in a measured manner.”
Earlier in an informal chat with newsmen on-board the Janmabhoomi Express, he said there was no chance of realignment of political parties in the State in the wake of the TDP’s move. “There is no chance of a realignment (of parties). What Naidu did was only to protect his (political) existence. If any realignment happens...from our side, it will be for the sake of the people,” Pawan asserted.
“I have watched some old clips. The way he was pouring hatred on the Congress, the way he expressed love for the BJP... People should be convinced and not Chandrababu (on alliances),” the Jana Sena president observed. When asked about the general feeling that he might again support the TDP, post-2019 elections, he replied he wouldn’t fault people to think on those lines. “I can’t help it,” he said adding he would not indulge in politics of deception.
“I will officially announce if there is anything. There will be nothing behind the curtains because ultimately you will be deceiving the people. Our party will never do it. Whatever I do, I will be open about it.”