Former minister and YSRCP MLA Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani) strongly responded to JSP chief Pawan Kalyan’s remarks made during Wednesday’s TDP-JSP ‘Janda’ meeting, likening him to the character ‘Shalya’ from the Puranas. Nani alleged that throughout the meeting, opposition leaders, including Pawan Kalyan, continuously referred to CM Jagan Mohan Reddy’s name but failed to elucidate why voters should support their alliance in the upcoming elections.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Nani criticised both Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan for what he perceived as a disregard for the welfare of the people and the State. He accused Pawan Kalyan of merely reciting a script prepared by a movie writer during the meeting, without offering anything substantial to uplift the self-respect of the Kapu community.
Nani recalled Pawan’s previous statement regarding Amaravati being the capital of only one community and challenged him to clarify his stance. He also questioned Pawan’s shifting positions over time.
Regarding the offer of seats from the YSRCP alliance, Nani stated that the party was indifferent to Pawan’s choices. He highlighted Pawan’s past antagonism towards YSRCP and Jagan Mohan Reddy and speculated about the possibility of a third alliance emerging.
Nani expressed concern over the impact of Pawan’s actions on Kapu voters, accusing him of causing hurt through his behaviour.
He challenged Pawan to substantiate any allegations against CM Jagan and questioned his reluctance to disclose information about him.
Characterising Pawan’s situation as pitiable, Nani accused him of self-aggrandizement during the meeting. He drew parallels between Pawan and the character Shalya from the Puranas, suggesting that Pawan’s actions were weakening his party and its leaders. Nani also criticized Chandrababu Naidu for not addressing Pawan’s role in aiding the TDP while Naidu was in jail.
Nani further accused Pawan of deceiving his supporters and aiding Chandrababu Naidu, cautioning that public figures who fail to uphold their promises will face scrutiny from the people. He predicted that both Chandrababu and Pawan would face rejection from voters in 2024.
Regarding past incidents, Nani raised questions about individuals associated with the TDP and their alleged involvement in criminal activities. He demanded answers from Chandrababu Naidu regarding the deaths of former minister YS Vivekananda Reddy and NTR.
Nani asserted that Pawan’s primary allegiance lay with Chandrababu Naidu and urged him to be accountable to his supporters rather than to the YSRCP.