Though the TDP- Jana Sena coalition proved to be a success formula both in elections and also in the government, it continued to be contentious between the two parties particularly in Pithapuram constituency, from where Jana Sena chief and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan elected to the assembly.
The former TDP MLA of Pithapuram, SVSN Varma, who has sacrificed his seat in last year’s elections to enable Pawan Kalyan to identify a `safety seat’ after his humiliating defeat by contesting from two constituencies in 2019, is unable to tolerate sidelining him after formation of the coalition government.
In an attempt to make his political relevance, he has raised a very sensitive and politically boiling issue asking TDP chief and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to give the party leadership to his son and IT Minister Nara Lokesh.
He asserted that TDP needs Lokesh’s leadership to formulate the `2047 Plan’. Indirectly refuting Jana Sena’s claims that Pawan Kalyan’s presence contributed a lot for winning in last year’s elections, he said that the party came to power because of the `Yuva Galam Padayatra’ performed by Lokesh.
These comments by Varma are felt to be a strategic move to check the Jana Sena’s political clout. It may be recalled that a few months later, when a section of TDP leaders asked to elevate Lokesh as Deputy Chief Minister, Jana Sena leadership felt it was intended to dilute Pawan Kalyan’s prominence.
It may be recalled that during last year’s elections, Varma was promised to get an MLC seat for sacrificing his MLA seat for Pawan Kalyan. But, surprisingly he was denied reportedly the Jana Sena leadership don’t want another `power center’ in Pithapuram and feared presence of locally rooted Varma as an MLC may dilute Pawan Kalyan’s clout.
Moreover, Nagababu’s insulting comments towards Varma in the Jana Sena rally have fueled the gap between the two parties. During Nagababu’s recent visit, Varma’s supporters protested, as he was not invited or involved in official programmes. After Nagababu’s comments, there is an internal commotion between the cadres of the two parties in Pithapuram.
But the state-level leadership of both the parties are maintaining silence over Pithapuram developments and not showing interest to bridge the gap. This has been creating apprehensions over Varma’s political future.
