Is Pawan factor behind Naidu’s threat to BJP?

• Pawan had planned to field 8 LS candidates
• Naidu reportedly foiled his move through BJP
• BJP is said to have prevailed upon Pawan
• Pawan men Potluri and others not to contest

Vijayawada: Was Pavan Kalyan the real factor behind the threat issued by Chandrababu Naidu to the BJP that he would walk out of the alliance? Was the threat aimed at preventing the hero and Jana Sena chief Pavan Kalyan from fielding his men and campaigning only for the BJP candidates?

There were reports in the media suggesting that Narendra Modi, BJP Prime Ministerial candidate, would be addressing four meetings in Telangana on the 21st and that Chandrababu Naidu would be sharing the dais with Modi only in Hyderabad and Pavan Kalyan will be there at other meetings. These reports reportedly upset Naidu, forcing him to issue threats to the BJP.

Prakash Javadekar, who was rushed to Hyderabad by party president Rajnath Singh, had two hours of talks with Naidu on Friday and got the issues resolved and saved the alliance. It was said that Pavan Kalyan was hurt as the TD chief had denied the Vijayawada Lok Sabha ticket to the businessman Potluri Vara Prasad. There were reports that the Jana Sena chief planned to field eight candidates in Seemandhra for the Lok Sabha where the BJP was not contesting. He too received invitations from the Lok Satta to contest on its symbol for all the 8 seats so that there would be clarity for the voters on common symbol. Pawan Kalyan had also given indications that he would not ask vote for the TD and limit himself to seeking votes for Modi. The sources said that Naidu was irked at this decision of the Sena chief and had decided to fix him through the BJP.

That may be the reason why Naidu was categorical in his statement at Gajapatinagarm on Thursday in which he threatened to walk out of the alliance. Taken aback at the sudden fire from friendly party, the BJP leaders have prepared for a contingency to fight alone if necessary and directed the party ranks to identify suitable candidates for all the 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats in the State. The party had also sent feelers to Pawan Kalyan to field his men on BJP ticket if the alliance with the TD is withdrawn.

Interestingly, Pawan Kalyan is understood to have given his nod to PVP and others to get ready to file nominations on the BJP ticket on April 19, the last day of filing nominations. The local BJP leaders are understood to have got in touch with Nandamuri Harikrishna, the sulking elder brother-in-law of Naidu to persuade him to join the saffron party.

However, the shrewd Chandrababu Naidu, who rushed from Visakhapatnam cutting short his Krishna district tour held one-on-one meeting with Prakash Javadekar and discussed his complaints against the BJP and the expected loss that the TD would suffer if Pawan fielded his own men in other places. The sources said that Jana Sena threat was the major issue during discussions and the issue of weak candidates was secondary.

Naidu would have made so much of noise if it was only to wrest Itchapuram seat. He was able to convince the BJP leaders that Pavan Kalyan should not be used as a loose cannon against the TDP. The sources said that the BJP also succeeded in convincing Pavan Kalyan to drop the idea of fielding his team. “Let there be no confusion in alliance. The voice from the State should be one, in favour of Modi, and no second voice and no confusion for the voters,” was the message sent to Pavan Kalyan to convince him and his supporters.

It is learnt that when Potluri Vara Prasad met Pawan Kalyan in Hyderabad on Friday, and the Jana Sena boss discouraged him from filing his nomination as an independent from Vijayawada LS seat. Later in the evening, when Prasad called on the BJP senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu in Hyderabad, Naidu also asked the film producer not to create further trouble to the BJP-TDP alliance in Seemandhra by trying to stay in the fray from Vijayawada LS seat.

Following these developments, Vara Prasad has decided not to contest the ensuing polls. He was unavailable for his comments. However, his supporters and the family members in Vijayawada reiterated their mission to defeat TD Lok Sabha nominee Kesineni Srinivas for the latter’s objectionable remarks against PVP.

Another businessman who wanted to contest on BJP ticket from Narsapuram – Raghu Ramakrishnam Raju – also had to eat a humble pie. Though he filed his nomination, he would have to withdraw it.