HYDERABAD: Asserting Jana Sena Party’s commitment to Telangana, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday declared that his party would remain active in the state and contest the 2029 Telangana Assembly elections as well as the GHMC polls.
A day after Gachibowli police denied permission for a public meeting, Pawan addressed a press conference at his Hyderabad residence, where he criticised “growing regionalism in political discourse”.
He cautioned that excessive regional sentiment could undermine national unity and stability and asserted that Jana Sena would never support any ideology that weakened nationalism in the name of regional identity.
Telangana is not anyone’s Ayya Jagir, says Pawan
Responding to criticism over his presence in Telangana politics, Pawan Kalyan asserted that Telangana belonged to every Indian citizen. “Telangana is not anyone’s Ayya Jagir (father’s property). No one can dictate where an Indian citizen can travel, live or engage in political activity within the country,” he remarked.
“If Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi can contest elections in southern India in Wayanad, if Indira Gandhi could contest from Medak, and if PV Narasimha Rao could be elected with the support of Andhra voters, then how can anyone argue that leaders belong only to one region? What hypocrisy is this? Do Indians now need passports to move from one state to another? Is that where we are headed?” he asked.
“Regionalism, if taken to extremes, can become more dangerous than terrorism,” he said, while announcing that Jana Sena would definitely contest the 2029 elections in Telangana. However, it remained unclear whether the Jana Sena would ally with the BJP and TDP in the state.
Stressing the party’s roots in Telangana, Pawan said Jana Sena was founded in Hyderabad and that its affection for Telangana was not politically motivated.
He recalled that, long before the statehood movement intensified, he had admired Telangana’s culture, traditions and spirit of resistance, and had promoted its identity through films and cultural activities.
Addressing allegations that Jana Sena opposed Telangana’s formation, Pawan reiterated that his objection had always been to the manner in which Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated, not to the creation of Telangana itself.
“We opposed the process, not Telangana. We envisioned a socially inclusive Telangana where all communities could prosper. We never opposed Telangana’s culture, people or statehood,” he said.
Pawan also expressed concern over the use of the term “Andhra” in a derogatory manner, stating that the Telangana movement was never directed against people from Andhra Pradesh. He noted that lakhs of Andhra-origin residents continue to live in Telangana, reflecting the inclusive nature of Telangana society.
Referring to threats allegedly made against him, the Jana Sena chief said he was not intimidated and had deliberately chosen to address the media from outside his residence to demonstrate that he would not be cowed by intimidation.
Pawan said he had refrained from making statements that could hurt Telangana’s sentiments over the past 12 years and had consistently respected the sacrifices made during the Telangana movement.
He maintained that the current controversy arose after he condemned remarks made by a political analyst against Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
He warned that repeatedly blaming Andhra people for Telangana’s problems would only strain relations between the two Telugu-speaking states.
“Hold leaders accountable if they have wronged Telangana. If I am among them, hold me accountable too. But do not spread hatred against ordinary people,” he said.
