Faced with criticism from all sections of people, including Kapu community leaders and his own followers for accepting just 24 assembly seats and three MP seats offered by then Telugu Desam Party as part of alliance, Jana Sena Party president and power star Pawan Kalyan made a weak attempt to defend himself.
“I took 24 seats; people are saying that’s it? It is said by other parties. Don’t count numbers. It is Jana Sena. An army of people. Even Gayatri Mantram has only 24 words. But it is the most powerful,” Pawan said.
The power star pointed out that when Vamana asked for only three feet, even Bali Chakravarthy asked the same question: “That’s it?” on observing Vamana. “But Vamana had shown his power by taking just three feet,” he pointed out.
In a way, he tried to create an impression that though he was accepting only 24 seats from TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu, he would have the power of controlling Naidu, if the alliance came to power.
But Pawan said he would show his party’s power to Jagan.
“We will push them down. By winning just one seat in the last elections, Jana Sena Party had created troubles for Jagan by taking up the public cause. Imagine what will happen if we win 24 seats,” he said, indirectly indicating that he will not spare even Naidu if he fails to do justice to the people.
“Leave ‘Vyooham’ to me; I will take care of that,” he said.
Pawan admitted that he had not amassed wealth like Jagan nor did he have four decades of organized political experience like TDP.
“We are building every brick and house. We don’t need suggestions. We need people who are ready to fight,” he said.
He also expressed his party’s inability to fight with an organized TDP.
“We don’t have booth members in every constituency. Unlike Jagan, we don’t have money to feed 1000 people for 53 days? We are still growing; in between, we can't give the state to Jagan,” he said.
“That is the reason we are ready for 24 seats and 3 MP seats. In 2019, if we contested in limited seats, Janasena would have been recognized political party. No one should question my strategy. My strategy is for the safety of the people,” he added.
He asked: “Other than insults and abuses, what have I gained from the past 10 years? I earned very hard and used that money for the party. If anyone is my true follower and supporter, don’t question me, stand by me. People shouldn’t question me by watching me on TV and sitting abroad. Whoever questions me, should learn how to stand with me and support me if they are my true supporters.”
