Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Anitha Vangalapudi has addressed recent criticism from Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, whose Jana Sena Party is allied with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party.
Pawan had accused her of "incompetence" and warned he might take over her portfolio amid rising concerns about crimes against women and children.
In response, speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Ms. Vangalapudi remained composed, interpreting the Deputy Chief Minister’s comments as support rather than criticism.
“Pawan Kalyan asked, ‘Will you not arrest if an accused belongs to a particular caste?’ I’ve taken his comments positively. I have responsibility, and I hold a critical portfolio. It’s like he’s encouraging me to proceed more assertively,” she said.
The Home Minister also suggested that her critics, including opposition leader Roja of the YSR Congress Party (who has called for her resignation), may have misunderstood the context of the remarks, adding, "They seem more thrilled that he (Pawan) said something about me."
Addressing a rally in his Pithapuram constituency on Monday, Pawan Kalyan had warned Ms. Vangalapudi that if the law-and-order situation did not improve, he would consider assuming her portfolio.
His remarks included praise for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s strict record on crime, citing 65,743 cases of crimes against women in 2022, the highest in any Indian state, per the National Crime Records Bureau.
"You (Ms. Vangalapudi) are the Home Minister… perform your duties well, or I will have to take over the Home Department myself," Pawan said, referencing his firm stance on issues, including the recent controversy over ‘Sanatan Dharma’ in Tamil Nadu.
"You need to act like Yogi Adityanath. MLAs are not here just to ask for votes. There are responsibilities too."
Capitalizing on his critique, YSRCP leader Roja, a former Tourism Minister in Jagan Reddy’s government, reiterated her call for Ms. Vangalapudi’s resignation.
“We’ve been saying this. Now the Deputy Chief Minister himself says the Home Minister has failed to maintain law and order. In just 120 days, there have been over 100 reported attacks on women. What is the Home Minister’s response?” Roja asked.
She also criticized the current government’s lack of use of the Disha mobile app and women-only police stations introduced by the YSRCP government.
The political clash occurs against the backdrop of allegations involving a recent incident at the Tirupati temple, where it was claimed that animal fat had been used in devotional offerings distributed to devotees.
Pawan Kalyan’s strong remarks, which included calls for police action and a warning to TDP and Jana Sena leaders to collaborate effectively, followed a tragic crime in Tirupati district where a four-year-old child was allegedly raped and murdered by a family member.
