Andhra Pradesh former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy is showing a noticeable change in his approach towards Pawan Kalyan.
During a recent visit to Pithapuram, Jagan refrained from criticizing Pawan, a stark contrast to his past behavior.
Previously, Jagan rarely mentioned Pawan by name, often referring to him only as "Datta Putrudu." However, in Pithapuram, Jagan made more sympathetic remarks, acknowledging Pawan Kalyan as a film artist.
During the last election campaign, Jagan realized that his personal attacks on Pawan’s personal life, particularly regarding his multiple marriages, had hurt him politically.
Jagan’s derogatory comments, mocking Pawan for having multiple marriages, were seen as diminishing his standing as Chief Minister.
Pawan Kalyan had consistently urged people to avoid commenting on his personal life. Despite this, Jagan continued his personal criticism, which led Pawan to retaliate with a sharp comment about a potential fourth marriage with Jagan himself.
Even some YCP leaders were uncomfortable with Jagan's personal attacks on Pawan, but they did not voice their concerns.
Jagan’s remarks did not sit well with the Kapu and Balija communities, who viewed the personal criticism of their leader as unacceptable.
Pawan Kalyan's nature is such that, if not personally attacked, he does not seek conflict. Unfortunately, Jagan failed to understand this.
Jagan had mistakenly believed that his charisma alone was the primary reason YCP won 151 Assembly seats in the 2019 elections. However, the result of the latest election demonstrated that the split in votes between the TDP and Jana Sena was a significant factor in his victory.
Without that division, Jagan likely would not have secured 151 Assembly and 22 Lok Sabha seats.
By the time of the 2024 elections, Jagan’s political pride had diminished following a significant defeat, and he unofficially reconciled with Pawan.
After the election, Pawan made statements emphasizing that although YCP suffered a major loss, they remained political rivals, not enemies.
He also added that while YCP leaders might see him as an enemy, that wasn’t his view. This reflects positively on Pawan Kalyan, who chose not to mock the losers but rather treated them as opponents.
It will be interesting to see whether Pawan Kalyan maintains his stance towards Jagan Mohan Reddy and the YCP leaders who previously criticized him, or whether his approach will evolve over time.