ANANTAPUR: At long last, Telugu film star and on-off politician Pawan Kalyan has announced that he will contest in the 2019 general election in Andhra Pradesh. He didn't say whether it would be for an MLA or an MP seat.
The actor, who heads an NGO-like party called Jana Sena, blurted out that commitment in a public meeting, the third in his latest flurry, to drum up the demand for special category status for Andhra Pradesh. The meeting at the Government Junior College in
Anantapur, saw a huge gathering, mainly of film fans.
Given to some memorable turns of phrase, the mercurial actor likened the special financial package pledged to AP by the Centre to a paper plane that won't fly. Two months ago, he had called the same package "two rotten laddus'.
He showered derision on some politicians allowing themselves to be felicitated for securing that rotten special package. "Some leaders have declared that special status is a closed chapter. If that's the case, you have cheated the people of Andhra Pradesh. We will not forget this injustice. Instead, we will start a revolution," the actor, who is said to be a fan of Che Guevara.
Though Andhra Pradesh has only been given what is due to it, these leaders made it appear that largesse was being showered upon the state, he said.
Being a perennially drought-hit district, there was a nod to Anantapur as well. The actor promised to work in collaboration with scientists and agriculture experts to bring prosperity to the district. "As a sign of my commitment, I will start my first Jana Sena district office in Anantapur shortly," he declared.