Hyderabad: The Jana Sena Party (JSP), led by actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan, faces mounting scrutiny not only from political observers but also from his own rank and file over its shifting ideological stance and leadership strategy. Critics are questioning whether the party has a coherent vision or if it is merely drifting on political opportunism.
At JSP’s 11th-anniversary event in Pithapuram, Kalyan’s multilingual address delivered in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil and Odia showcased his linguistic versatility but left supporters disillusioned. This multilingual presentation indicated that the Janasena founder intended to address sections beyond the state. Kalyan fans expected clarity on the party’s future agenda, Janasena’s perspective about coalition politics, progress on electoral promises and strategies to expand its influence. Instead, he sidestepped the specifics and focussed on celebrating the JSP-BJP-TDP alliance rather than addressing concerns about ideological inconsistency. Interestingly, the absence of the once-ubiquitous “CM, CM” chants, signalling a subdued tone, raised doubts about the party’s ambition to lead independently.
JSP foundation day event. Photo: Author provided
From Che Guevara to sanatana dharma
Kalyan, who once cited communist revolutionary Che Guevara as an inspiration and championed socialist ideals during JSP’s 2009 launch, now positions himself as a defender of the sanatana dharma (Hindu traditionalism). At the event, he emphasised his upbringing in a devout Hindu household, recounting childhood rituals like Ramayana recitations. This pivot has drawn sharp criticism, with opponents accusing him of abandoning his own founding ideal principles to align with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) right-wing agenda. Since BJP entered into electoral playfield in Andhra Pradesh, it had not got any non-BJP politician to bat for BJP’s ideals like Kalyan. Political observers highlight his ideological U-turn as “opportunism masquerading as pragmatism.”
Over the last few months, his embrace of Hindutva politics has become a hot topic. In his speech at the party’s 12th foundation day, he openly told the gathering that he is willingly playing second fiddle to expand the footprint of Hindutva communal politics in the southern states.
Coalition compromises and Kapu community’s frustration
Despite being part of Andhra Pradesh’s ruling TDP-BJP-JSP coalition, JSP’s role remains ambiguous. Kalyan avoided mention of solo electoral goals, instead advocating for the coalition’s longevity. “The alliance should govern for another 15–20 years,” he declared, signaling a shift from earlier ambitions. This has frustrated the Kapu community, a key JSP support base, which sees Kalyan’s rise as a path to their political empowerment. While Kapu leaders demand assertive leadership, Kalyan urges patience, stating that he seeks “patriots, not power-hungry opportunists.”
His remarks on national unity – “India is one; there’s no North-South divide” – contradict his earlier warnings about “North Indian dominance.” In 2017, he criticised the appointment of a North Indian IAS officer Anil Kumar Singhal to oversee the Tirumala Temple Devasthanam (TTD) EO, vowing to resist “Hindi imperialism.” This reversal has confused supporters. Actor Prakash Raj echoed regional sentiments, questioning Kalyan’s stance on language pride. On Saturday, the actor criticised Kalyan via a post on his X account, condemning the latter’s alleged efforts to “impose Hindi” on non-Hindi speakers.
Also read: ‘Hindus First, Caste Next’: What ‘Haindava Sankharavam’ Means for the BJP in Andhra Pradesh
In his message, Raj said, “Do not force your Hindi language upon us. This is not about harbouring disdain for another language, it is about safeguarding our mother tongue and preserving our cultural identity with dignity. Someone should kindly explain this to Pawan Kalyan garu.”
The anniversary event also exposed internal fissures. Pawan Kalyan’s brother, Nagababu, sparked controversy by crediting Pithapuram’s voters alone for Kalyan’s victory, dismissing the role of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader SVSN Varma, who vacated the seat for him. Varma’s supporters retorted, asking why Kalyan had publicly honoured him earlier if his contributions were inconsequential. Opposition Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) highlighted the irony: Pawan Kalyan’s win relied heavily on coalition support, yet JSP now downplays its allies’ role.
BJP’s ‘hidden agenda’
Kalyan’s endorsement of BJP policies like the three-language formula, opposed by Tamil Nadu’s Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and his criticism of “anti-national” forces have fuelled speculation that JSP is becoming the BJP’s southern proxy. His recent invocation of the Godhra riots and praise for “Hindu unity” further align with BJP rhetoric, complete with an out of place reference to Partition.
While Kalyan denies carrying the BJP flag, critics argue his agenda mirrors the ruling party’s. An interesting comparison is that while Kalyan became a crusader for sanatan dharma, the BJP, for whom this agenda is important, kept watching him with bemusement while giving occasional support through events like Haindava Sankharavam.
As JSP completes 11 years, it faces existential questions. Is it a party of principle or a vehicle for Kalyan’s ever-shifting ideologies? Can it balance regional aspirations with nationalist rhetoric? With no clear roadmap, supporters and critics alike await Kalyan’s next move, one that could either cement JSP’s relevance or consign it to political oblivion.
