It looks like Jana Sena Party chief and deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan is preparing himself mentally to accept his cabinet colleague and Telugu Desam Party general secretary Nara Lokesh as the possible successor of Chandrababu Naidu as the chief minister.
Though it is not exactly known what Naidu is thinking about his long-term succession plans, it is getting clear that he is grooming his son as his successor both in the party and the government. Lokesh has already been controlling the administration directly and indirectly.
Now, even Pawan Kalyan appears to be extending support for Lokesh as the next chief ministerial candidate within the ruling coalition.
At a recent event in Amaravati to distribute appointment letters to newly recruited police constables, both the chief minister and Pawan Kalyan were present, while Lokesh was away in Visakhapatnam to sign an MoU related to the proposed Aero Defence City by GMR and the Manas Trust.
Despite this, Pawan Kalyan publicly remarked that Lokesh’s absence was “felt,” a comment that quickly became a talking point across political circles.
More recently, at the Jana Sena Party leaders’ meeting, Pawan Kalyan repeatedly emphasised that the coalition should remain in power for the next 10 to 15 years.
He clarified that this did not mean weakening Jana Sena or strengthening another party but focusing first on consolidating democracy in the state.
Analysts note that Pawan Kalyan, currently 54, would be in his mid-to-late 60s if such a timeline materialises—effectively ruling out his immediate claim to the chief minister’s post.
This has led many within Jana Sena and the TDP to conclude that he is playing a “safe political game,” ensuring stability within the coalition while enjoying significant authority and comfort in the present government.
However, this stance has not gone down well with sections of the Jana Sena cadre, who feel repeated assertions about long-term coalition rule implicitly sideline their leader’s chief ministerial aspirations.
Aware of this discontent, Pawan Kalyan reportedly used the Monday meeting to explain his position to party leaders.
He made it clear that given its current strength, his party cannot independently secure power in Andhra Pradesh without aligning with a larger party.
Pawan Kalyan appears be happy to be in a political “safe zone,” ensuring minimal risk to himself and the coalition—even if it means alienating a section of his own supporters in the long run.