With less than two months remaining until the assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, the state's major political parties, the YSR Congress party and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), have ramped up their public outreach efforts with full fervor.
The TDP has intensified its campaign with programs like Shankharaavam and Nijam Gelavali, among others. The entire family of TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu has hit the roads to connect with the people.
On the other hand, YSRCP president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy is on a whirlwind tour of the state, holding party meetings and rallies under the banner of “Siddham.” He is all set to announce his party manifesto on February 18.
Even the previously less prominent party like the Congress has begun engaging with the people through various programs, with Jagan’s sister Y S Sharmila actively campaigning against her own brother.
However, one man whose ambition is to become chief minister of the state one day – Pawan Kalyan – is nowhere to be seen in action.
While he occasionally visits the Mangalagiri party office to meet with party leaders, he has yet to launch any public outreach campaign.
Finally, when his party leaders had planned an extensive campaign for him in the Godavari districts, starting Wednesday, and made all the necessary arrangements for his public rally in Bhimavaram, Pawan Kalyan suddenly canceled his tour program.
The party issued a statement citing a trivial reason for the sudden postponement, stating that Pawan Kalyan was unable to fly to Bhimavaram in a chartered helicopter due to lack of permission from the authorities. It even alleged that this was due to pressure from the YSR Congress party government.
This disappointment for his fans and party workers comes at a time when they were preparing to demonstrate their strength. However, the reason given appears trivial.
If permission for the helicopter was not granted, why couldn't Pawan travel by his car, as Bhimavaram is not far from Vijayawada by road?
Thus, there may be another reason for Pawan Kalyan's absence from the rally, and when he will appear before his fans remains uncertain.