Pawan Kalyan launches attack on TDP and BJP, points fingers at Nara Lokesh

"Why should I support these parties which have betrayed the people?" Pawan Kalyan asked.
Pawan Kalyan launches attack on TDP and BJP, points fingers at Nara Lokesh
Pawan Kalyan launches attack on TDP and BJP, points fingers at Nara Lokesh
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Actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan on Wednesday lashed out at the TDP and the BJP for failing to keep their promises to the people of Andhra Pradesh.

The Jana Sena chief who was addressing a massive rally for his party's fourth Formation Day meeting at the open grounds opposite Acharya Nagarjuna University.

Pawan began his speech stating that he would also stand to 'fight for people's problems and support the public.'

Pawan Kalyan took on the BJP-led union government over its 'injustice' to the state and accused the party of 'controlling' Telugu MPs.

"The kind of injustice that has been meted out to state is agonising and deeply painful," he said.

In response to recent remarks of Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, that the state's demands could not be met on 'sentiment' alone, Pawan said, "Wasn't it sentiment that caused you to support the bifurcation of Telangana then? The BJP government has gone back on the promise of granting special status for 15 years."

He alleged that the BJP had pushed the state into agitation mode. 

Speaking about Andhra Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Pawan levelled corruption charges against the TDP. 

"I supported the TDP and the BJP parties during the general elections held in 2014 with a hope that they would rebuild the state which had no Capital and no financial resources. But the state government has belied my hopes and the aspirations of crores of people. Why should I support these parties which have betrayed the people?" he asked.

Talking about why he had supported the TDP-BJP coalition, he said "Naidu is an expert and a good administrator but I'm hearing false statements and half-truths. You (Naidu) said 1,500-2,000 acres is enough for capital construction, but the figure has now gone to 36,000 acres."

"What about Uttarandra , Rayalaseema and Prakasham district ,why are you doing same mistake of just developing one region?" the Jana Sena chief asked.

He said that the party's strategy and alliances would be outlined in its election manifesto that will be released in August.

However, he mentioned that he would go alone in the upcoming local body elections at the panchayat, mandal and municipal corporation level.  

In another blow, Pawan also accused Naidu of letting his son and Andhra IT Minister, Nara Lokesh, go scot-free over corruption charges. 

"Don't you know about your son Lokesh's corruption? Are you letting him do it despite your knowledge? if so, I'm leaving it to your wisdom," he said.

He alleged that businessman Sekhar Reddy who was arrested post-demonetisation, was in touch with Lokesh.

Indicating that he was unlikely to support the TDP again, Pawan said, "You have satisfied no one. You have lost the faith of people including mine."

Background

In 2014, the Jana Sena had backed the NDA coalition and did not contest the previous elections.

Pawan had campaigned for the TDP-BJP at the time, sharing a stage with Chandrababu and then Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

Pawan, who plans to contest from Andhra Pradesh in 2019, chose Kodangattu in Telangana to launch his political campaign as it was here that he had a narrow escape when a high-tension wire fell on him as he campaigned for the 2009 elections.

Pawan was then rooting for Praja Rajyam, the party floated by his elder brother, superstar Chiranjeevi. 

After floating his own party in 2014, Pawan decided to register himself as a voter in Eluru town of Andhra Pradesh in 2016 after a delegation of party leaders from West Godavari district called on him and made a request to this effect.

At the time, he had said that his party's first office would come up in Anantapur.

However, earlier this week, performed a 'bhoomi puja' and laid the foundation stone for his new residence-cum-office in Andhra's Amaravati region, hinting that he was going to participate actively in the state's political discourse.

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