The Price of Leaving Pawan Kalyan!

Sustaining in politics is certainly a task in itself as it requires patience and expertise. Not everyone can crack the code and lead successful careers, particularly in Telugu states politics. One such case could be that of former Janasena leader, and also ex CBI Joint Director, JD Lakshmi Narayana.

Firstly, JD was an integral part of Janasena and was given top respect by Pawan Kalyan prior to the 2019 election. He was even given the prized Vizag MP ticket by Pawan in that year’s election but JD ended up in 3rd position behind YCP and TDP candidates.

JD’s own defeat from Vizag and also Janasena’s poor performance in the 2019 election perhaps spurred doubts in the mind of the former. This was evident if we observe that he gradually moved out of the Janasena ecosystem after the 2019 debacle. He aimed to attain a personal image of his own and this didn’t go well for him either as he had no takers in 2024 and had to launch his own party Navabharath which was again washed out in the NDA wave this year.

Had JD stuck with PK and Janasena through the tough phase from 2019-24, he would have certainly been fairly rewarded by the JSP chief, who is now the deputy CM of AP. Even though getting Vizag MP ticket would have been tough in the alliance due to the presence of TDP’s Bharath, JD would have certainly been given an MLA ticket.

If we add JD’s rich academic background and his clean image to the mix, he would have been great ministerial material. Under a rampant NDA government led by Chandrababu, and deputy CM Pawan, Mr. JD could have reiterated the reforms that he so passionately advocated all through his career. But he chose a different path and missed out on all this.

For instance, we have Nadendla Manohar who was with Pawan through thick and thin. Today, he enjoys absolute power as he is the civil supplies minister and stays with Pawan wherever he goes. He is regarded as No. 2 in Janasena which really is a big deal in the current scenario.

Today, JSP is basking in power, while Pawan’s trusted reformist JD has become irrelevant. This is in tune with the famous saying in politics which goes like “Timing and placement are what differentiates a successful leader and a failed leader.” Sadly for JD, he is getting to learn it the hard way.