(Image source from: x.com/JanaSenaParty)
Chandrababu and Pawan Kalyan turn crucial in NDA Alliance:- On the very day Chandrababu Naidu made a triumphant return to power in Andhra Pradesh, Pawan Kalyan, the leader of the Jana Sena Party (JSP), emerged as the standout performer. Popularly known as the 'Power Star' due to his fame as Chiranjeevi's younger sibling, Pawan had often been seen as an unconventional and inconsistent politician, especially after his disappointing defeat in 2019 when he lost in two constituencies and his party secured just a single seat. However, true to his on-screen persona, Pawan persevered, and on Tuesday, he made a significant mark in the electoral arena, sweeping 21 out of 21 MLA seats and 2 out of 2 MP seats that his party had contested. The star himself won the Pithapuram seat, becoming an elected leader for the very first time. Pawan's earlier statement at a public meeting in Machilipatnam in January 2021, where he had said that "defeat is not the end, but the beginning, and there is no defeat for those who strive to move forward," may have been met with skepticism at the time, but his critics have now been proven wrong. Meanwhile, Naidu faced a jail term of around 50 days in the alleged skill development scam.
In the aftermath of the recent elections, the BJP found itself short of a majority in the Lok Sabha. This presented an opportunity for the Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar of the JD-U, and the TDP's N Chandrababu Naidu – both members of the National Democratic Alliance – to emerge as potential kingmakers. While Kumar's party holds 12 seats, Naidu's TDP controls 16. Interestingly, both leaders have, at different points, left and rejoined the NDA coalition. When Naidu was part of the NDA in 2014, his party was granted one cabinet berth and a Minister of State position. However, with his 16 seats now crucial for government formation, Naidu may seek a larger role and representation within the alliance. Naidu, whose party also dominated the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections, will engage in discussions with the BJP's top leadership regarding the state's new government. The tripartite NDA alliance in Andhra Pradesh also includes actor-politician Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena, and the BJP is reportedly looking to reward him for the state victory that ousted Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSRCP from power.
The Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde has secured a significant foothold, clinching seven seats in Maharashtra. Shinde has, so far, refrained from seeking a cabinet position at the central level, despite aligning with the BJP and splitting the Shiv Sena. However, with the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections on the horizon, Shinde will likely aim to bolster his standing within the alliance, as every seat holds value in the political landscape.
This historic election has never been seen before in my political career. Even people in America took the effort to come and vote, as they yearned for change. The people won't forgive anyone who acts with arrogance, and that's why we secured this overwhelming mandate. Nitish Kumar, Pawan Kalyan, and Chandrababu Naidu will attend the meeting, where top leaders from the BJP and its allies are also expected to be present. They are likely to congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is set to equal the record for the longest-serving prime minister, and discuss the details of the new government, which is expected to have a different composition and character, with a greater share for the BJP's allies. While the NDA is comfortably above the majority mark of 272 in the 543-member Lok Sabha, the BJP has fallen short of the magic number for the first time since 2014 and is heavily reliant on its allies for government formation. The TDP, JD(U), Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Chirag Paswan-led LJP (Ram Vilas) have won 16, 12, seven, and five seats, respectively, and will play a crucial role in the formation of the new government.
