The way power star and Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan specifically targeted the Telugu Desam Party and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has made one wonder whether his intention is to come to power in the next elections or split the anti-establishment votes.
Though the political analysts would take some time to go deep into the objectives of Pawan Kalyan, what struck them immediately is that his aggression might in fact benefit the ruling TDP, rather than helping him come to power.
The reason is simple: there is no major political vacuum in Andhra Pradesh as the YSR Congress party has already emerged as a strong alternative to the TDP and has the potential to come to power in 2019 elections, as the anti-establishment wave is gradually building up.
Under these circumstances, if Pawan Kalyan comes to the fore as a powerful political force, he would definitely attract a large section of people, particularly youth and students, who would otherwise tilt towards the YSRC.
It would mean the anti-TDP votes would be split and as a result, Naidu might scrape through even with a low margin.
This is what his brother K Chiranjeevi had done in 2009. His Praja Rajyam Party split a major chunk of anti-establishment of votes, which benefitted the Congress party and the TDP which had fair chances of coming to power ended up with 91 assembly seats. In over 30-40 seats, the Congress could win with just around 2,000 to 3,000 votes.
So, there is every possibility that Pawan’s Jana Sena might do a Prajya Rajyam for the TDP.
