There was a flurry of ‘Pawanisms’ during the launch of Jana Sena Party on Friday night. Party founder Pawan Kalyan was his usual self – full of maverick mannerisms and quirky gestures – as he played to the gallery drawing loud cheers from his fans.
As soon as he wound up his speech – that seemed never ending – with a ‘Congress hatao’ slogan, the kurta-clad actor ran off the dais only to sprint back to collect his speech diary. That was all. There was no party agenda nor any specific plan to run the party. That gave enough ammo to opposition parties, particularly the Congress, to sling mud on the mercurial actor for his call to bury the Congress.
While Mr. Kalyan succeeded in fanning the flames of regional disparities, it appears that he united Congress leaders of both the regions. The vitriolic attack by the Congress leaders on the actor a day after the party’s launch indicates this with even Chiranjeevi joining the issue with his brother that no force on earth can destroy the ‘grand old party’.
At the outset, Mr. Kalyan looks set to test the political waters, but may not take the plunge full-fledged. This comes amid serious reservations being expressed over his wherewithal to sustain the party. “It will fizzle out just like his Anti-Corruption Force. At the most, he would become a star campaigner for the TDP-BJP combine in the State,” points out a senior political analyst. There are several others who believe Mr. Kalyan is a mere front for a larger combine. The actor has already disappointed his fans and supporters by declaring that he is not ready for the elections, which are only weeks away. “The bubble surrounding the Jana Sena Party will burst very soon,” a Congress MLA said.
When he floated the Praja Rajyam Party and entered the 2009 polls, Mr. Chiranjeevi could win only 18 seats, but garnered a sizeable 18 per cent vote share. With sceptics giving very little hope to Mr. Kalyan’s JSP, it could be an anti-climax to the mega hype surrounding the blockbuster launch of Jana Sena.
