Is Pawan Kalyan eyeing a Tamil politics plunge?
When Pawan Kalyan arrives in Chennai on May 26 to speak at a conference on 'One Nation, One Election', the visit will carry more than symbolic value. With the Jana Sena Party playing a key role in the sweeping NDA (National Democratic Alliance) victory in Andhra Pradesh last year and Kalyan serving as the state's deputy chief minister, his next moves are being watched with interest.DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam)-ruled Tamil Nadu, it seems, is very much in Kalyan's line of sight, given his consistent engagement with the state through frequent visits and, more recently, a wide-ranging interview to a Tamil news channel.advertisement'Pawan Kalyan has lived in Chennai for over a decade during his education,' says K.S. Radhakrishnan, former DMK leader and an associate of Kalyan. 'He followed Tamil Nadu politics very closely. Also, there is a sizeable Telugu-speaking population here—15-20 per cent. If Pawan Kalyan enters the fray, he could consolidate that base, and [achieve] more.''The Jana Sena Party already has a footing in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and some following in Karnataka. Coming to Tamil Nadu could help Pawan Kalyan emerge as a national leader,' predicts Radhakrishnan.
Ajaya Kumar Vemulapati, national spokesperson of the Jana Sena Party, offers a more measured view. 'Pawan Kalyan's visit is not about expansion at this point. We are part of the NDA and cooperate with all its constituents, including the BJP and AIADMK (All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) in Tamil Nadu. His visit aims to strengthen the alliance in Tamil Nadu and build momentum,' says Vemulapati.advertisementA few months ago, Kalyan, a cinema star-turned-politician, had made a veiled reference to Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, stating that 'Sanatana Dharma cannot be erased; those who suggest so would be'.Udhayanidhi had, back in 2023, dubbed 'Sanatana' as a divisive culture fit for eradication like 'dengue, mosquitoes, malaria, Corona'. The remark was interpreted in some quarters as a genocide call and sparked massive outcry. An unapologetic Udhayanidhi was pulled up by the courts too.Kalyan, while referencing Udhayanidhi, had made it a point to speak in Tamil. Udhayanidhi had calmly responded, saying, 'Let's wait and see.'That exchange, layered with ideological tension, offers a glimpse of how Tamil Nadu receives messages from its neighbours—with a firm confidence in its own political and cultural grammar, something, observers say, Kalyan cannot fit into.For now, Kalyan's engagement with the state appears to be a strategic but cautious gesture. It is not yet a full entry into Tamil politics but rather a tentative step in that direction. Whether this develops further will depend on how well he interprets Tamil Nadu's political landscape.Subscribe to India Today Magazine
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