REPORTERS’ DIARY : Jagan Slams Budget, Mocks Pawan’s Oppn Status Remark

YSRCP chief and former chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy took a dig at the Andhra Pradesh government’s 2025-26 budget, claiming it failed to live up to the grand promises made during the elections. In a two-hour-long media interaction, Jagan dissected the budget allocations, arguing that the numbers on paper do not match the assurances given to the people. However, the real fireworks began when a journalist brought up Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s recent comment about the status of the Leader of the Opposition. Pawan had quipped that if YSRCP wanted opposition status based on its 40% vote share, they should try their luck in Germany, where such provisions exist. The remark, intended as a jibe, sparked a sharp reaction from Jagan, who wasted no time in ridiculing Pawan’s political stature. “Corporator ki ekkuva – MLA ki takkuva. Jeevithamlo okkasari MLA iyadu,” Jagan remarked sarcastically, implying that Pawan is politically insignificant—more than a corporator but still falling short of an MLA, given that he has only held the position once. The comment quickly set social media on fire, further fueling the ongoing rivalry between the two leaders. Meanwhile, JSP leaders didn’t take the insult lightly and swung into action, filing cases against Jagan for his remarks on Pawan Kalyan. With tensions escalating, it’s clear that the war of words between the two political heavyweights is far from over.