Pawan Kalyan delves into secularism, language row on Janasena formation day
Chitrada (Andhra Pradesh) (PTI): Janasena founder Pawan Kalyan has commemorated the 11th formation day of his party and asserted his credentials as a Sanatan champion and his party's success against several odds.
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister said on Friday that he started the party all alone in 2014 and that he is looking forward to raising 100 leaders from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana who could influence the country.
"As we don't have the fear of losing, we contested in 2019. Even after losing, we took a step forward. We stood our ground and upheld the party. We not only stood up for ourselves but also upheld the four-decade-old TDP," said Kalyan, addressing a large meeting here in the East Godavari district.
He said the party entered the Legislative Assembly with a 100 per cent success rate by winning all the 21 seats it contested in the 2024 polls.
He cherished his association with TDP supremo and CM N Chandrababu Naidu and IT Minister Nara Lokesh, as he hit out at some of the news reports which, he said, accused him of shifting his ideology often.
Kalyan said that his ideology is to forge unity in diversity and claimed that the ideology Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism) is in his blood.
Communalism in India is a result of "pseudo-secularism," he said.
"True secularism should be applied in true spirit, not for vote bank politics… I am even ready to die for Bharat," Kalyan said.
Later, the actor-politician waded into the language controversy raging between Tamil Nadu and the Centre, emphasising that more languages are needed to keep the integrity of the country.
He castigated people for opposing Hindi and arguing against dubbing Tamil films into the language.
Kalyan also called for debates on delimitation amid worries among some politicians who argue that some states will lose their MP seats in the Lok Sabha.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
