Pithapuram, which is a political stronghold and the headquarters of Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, is seeing increasing dissent within the JanaSena-TDP coalition. What was initially a show of solidarity in the 2024 elections is now starting to fray, with internal discontent risking upsetting the balance of the coalition.
In 2024, TDP senior leader Varma sacrificed his seat in Pithapuram to facilitate Pawan Kalyan’s candidature on the promise that he would be nominated to the Legislative Council (MLC). But ten months have lapsed, and the promise remains unfulfilled, leaving Varma’s followers more and more disillusioned.
The controversy picked up new vigor after Nagababu’s recent trip to Pithapuram, where he was seen in his official capacity as an MLC. From opening an Anna Canteen to attending other public functions, his appearance surprised TDP cadres. Numerous people are now wondering if Varma is being edged out after his electoral offering.
Tensions further mounted because of some comments Nagababu had made at an earlier JanaSena rally—comments that did not go down well with Varma’s followers. Although he was present there, the restlessness unfolded out in the open, with slogans in support of Varma shouted by his party workers, only to be confronted by JanaSena cadres who agitated with party-backed slogans, heralding a sheer split.
There’s increasing sentiment that Varma is not getting the credit or respect he should, given that he played a key role in helping Pawan Kalyan win over the constituency. The tension between the two sides, which were formerly allies in a shared cause, is increasingly becoming an issue of concern for ground-level workers and political analysts as well.
With the situation becoming more and more sensitive, numerous people opine that high-level intervention is badly required to settle the differences and ensure the credibility of the alliance in the region. Whether the JanaSena-TDP alliance can survive this internal crisis is uncertain.
