Pawan Kalyan who is in North Andhra tour currently maid a statement that it was his biggest mistake of not contesting in the 2014 elections. He told, if he had contested, even if his Jansena had got 5-10 seats in the 2014 elections, he would have ensured discussion in AP assembly itself and the corruption and failures of TDP government.

As part of his Praja porata Yatra, he was addressing public meetings held in Pudur, Madagala and Narsipatnam in Visakhapatnam district and he made these comments in that public meeting. He also countered the statement of Chandrababu Naidu that “ Pawan has changed in recent times”. Pawan reply saying, he did not change but it was Chandrababu Naidu who changed his stand on special status for 36 times so far.

This is not first time Pawan Kalyan making this kind of statement. Earlier also he told that he should have contested in 2014 elections so that he would have some representation in AP assembly. However, whether Pawan knows or not, it was for his good that he did not contest the elections. Had he really contested in 2014 and won 5 to 10 seats, guessing what would have happened by now is not very difficult. Along with 20 MLAs of YSR CP, probably these 5 to 10 MLAs also might have joined TDP by now. Or even worse, those MLAs might have merged the party with TDP by now, similar to how TDP merged with TRS in Telangana. Had this happened it would have been more humiliating than PRP experience. Probably , by knowing this only Pawan Kalyan did not contest for any seats in 2014 as he was not in a position to win major chunk or even demand more seats that time.

Despite all this he is now saying, his party should have contested in 2014 and win 5-10 seats, only to give impression to people that his party will strive for solving issues of people even if it doesn’t come to power. This stand is exactly opposite to what opposition leader Jagan Mohan Reddy’s stand who has been saying he will be able to solve the problems of people once he comes to power. Moreover, YSRCP MLAs have not been attending assembly for sometime and they may not attend any more sessions until elections. So, by giving this kind of statements, Pawan Kalyan is subtly targeting YSRCP. Also by mentioning 5-10 seats, he is trying to project himself as someone not a power monger.

We will have to wait and see whether this strategy helps him or not

-ZURAN