An interesting political speculation is going on in Andhra Pradesh about the potential entry of JC Pawan Reddy, son of senior Rayalaseema leader JC Diwakar Reddy, into the YSR Congress Party.
Pawan Reddy contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Anantapur on a TDP ticket but lost to YSRCP candidate Talari Rangaiah. Ahead of the 2024 elections, TDP leadership decided to allot only one seat to the JC family.
Accordingly, the Tadipatri assembly ticket was given to Asmith Reddy, son of JC Prabhakar Reddy, the younger brother of Diwakar Reddy.
Asmith Reddy went on to win the seat. Since then, Pawan Reddy has largely stepped back from electoral politics and has been focusing on business.
Latest reports in Anantapur suggest that Pawan may now be seriously considering joining the YSRCP. His long-standing personal rapport with former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, going back to their school days, has fuelled the speculation.
The JC family’s direct criticism of Jagan has also decreased in the past year, adding to the political curiosity. Particularly, Diwakar Reddy has virtually gone silent and only Prabhakar Reddy is still putting up an aggressive posture.
The speculation intensified after former PCC chief Shailajanath, during his joining of YSRCP, reportedly met Pawan and discussed the likelihood of his entry into the ruling party. Though Pawan denied such reports earlier, the discussions have regained momentum.
If Pawan does choose to join YSRCP, the move may not be welcomed by some local YSRCP leaders who have long been political rivals of the JC family.
However, party insiders believe that Jagan may consider approving the entry, given the political weight the JC family still carries in Anantapur.
With TDP likely to stick to its policy of offering the JC family a single ticket in future elections, Pawan’s political ambitions and next moves remain a point of interest.
The final decision of whether Pawan will shift to YSRCP or remain with TDP is now being closely watched by political circles in Rayalaseema.
