Is Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan growing increasingly disillusioned with the coalition government in Andhra Pradesh?
Political observers and party insiders say yes and their assessment appears to carry weight.
For months now murmurs from within the Jana Sena have hinted at his deep frustration over the way the alliance government with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is functioning.
Though Pawan continues to voice his desire for the coalition to endure for the long term, sources say his confidence in the government’s performance is fading fast.
Recent developments seem to reflect that unease.
Pawan Kalyan reportedly directed the DGP to submit a detailed report on the unchecked proliferation of gambling dens across the state, a move that many interpret as a veiled expression of his displeasure with the administration’s weak enforcement.
His concerns, however, go beyond gambling.
Reliable sources indicate he is also unhappy with issues ranging from illegal sand mining and spurious liquor production to the privatization of government medical colleges, all of which have sparked public backlash.
Why then has Pawan not spoken out openly?
According to senior Jana Sena leaders, the deputy CM fears that any public criticism could send negative signals to the people and ultimately benefit YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the current opposition leader.
Yet the tension remains open. Reports suggest that Pawan has privately voiced his frustration, accusing the TDP of exploiting his support while sidelining his priorities.
He is said to have remarked that when things go well the credit goes to Chandrababu Naidu and his son Lokesh but when controversies erupt the entire Alliance bears the blame.
Pawan Kalyan's discontent reportedly surfaced during a recent cabinet meeting over land allocations to the Lulu Group where he openly expressed his displeasure.
The TDP however appears confident that Pawan’s resentment will not translate into rebellion.
Party leaders reportedly view his opposition to Jagan as a binding factor, believing that despite dissatisfaction Pawan will remain politically aligned with TDP for now, as he has no alternative choice.
But politics is rarely static.
Should Pawan decide he no longer wishes to shoulder the burden of TDP’s missteps the power balance in Andhra Pradesh could shift dramatically.
Until then the coalition’s unity may remain what it currently is; outwardly calm yet capable of igniting at any moment.
