With all due respect to Jana Sena and its founder Pawan Kalyan, it still is the general perception that Jana Sena is just another version of Kapu Sena and Pawan Kalyan is just another Mudragada Padmanabham.
As of now, the Kapus have no leader to call their own after the disaster that was Praja Rajyam.
Pawan Kalyan filled that void with Jana Sena and the Kapus are therefore sailing with him.
Also, after bifurcation, they are the largest community in Andhra Pradesh capable of decisively affecting any poll outcome and therefore, Kapu appeasement has taken precedence over everything else pretty much like the way Congress bows to the Muslims.
Pawan Kalyan is just cashing in on this vote bank. But as a politician, he does not even come close to the stature of the seasoned Chandrababu Naidu or YS Jagan Reddy who genuinely have cadre from cross- sections of society.
Besides, banking on Pawan Kalyan’s support would be a grave mistake. He has always been mercurial and unpredictable with his statements whether it is on Twitter or other platforms.
Out of the blue, he went to KCR’s office and praised him to the skies sometime back. His prolonged absences and appeal for ban on media in the Sri Reddy episode speak of an immature mind rather than an astute politician.
Of course, he is a newcomer and still learning. But stability in thought, word and action is the foundation for a leader and no one knows what Pawan Kalyan will do or say next. Such qualities do not inspire potential followers.
Therefore, even the YSRCP should not be banking on any possible support from the movie star.
Four years ago, when he floated the Jana Sena, he said that Chandrababu Naidu was a good man and that YS Jagan was not. Today, he seems to be softer towards YSJ even though nothing has changed about YSJ except an increase in his popularity. Relying on such a whimsical person will not do any party any good.
Had it not been for the Kapu vote bank, it is doubtful whether Pawan Kalyan would have got such prominence to the point where a person like Chandrababu visited him personally to seek support.
Contesting in all 175 seats is not a joke for a fledgling party. If Jana Sena really does that, the answer will be found to the question whether it is really a people’s party or just a Kapu Sena giving call-sheets for a fixed amount of money.
