Countering the Congress and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said it was inappropriate to make remarks that could create unnecessary tensions between the people of the two Telugu states. He said 12 years had passed since the bifurcation and that attempts to revive regional sentiments at this stage were unwarranted. People, he said, were capable of judging for themselves who had contributed to the development of different regions.
ALSO READ | Pawan Kalyan faces flak from Telangana parties
The Chief Minister's remarks came amid a political controversy sparked by comments from Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party (JSP) chief Pawan Kalyan. Pawan had expressed displeasure after the Cyberabad police denied permission for a JSP meeting in Hyderabad on Telangana Formation Day. The police cited cases filed by JSP leaders against Hyderabad-based political commentator Prof. K. Nageshwar, as well as the protests that followed, saying that permission for the meeting could lead to tensions.
Responding to the denial on June 2, Pawan Kalyan said his party would continue its political activities in Telangana and would contest future elections in the state. His remarks drew sharp responses from Congress and BRS leaders. While both parties said the JSP was free to operate in Telangana, they also argued that the state would not accept any political hegemony from Andhra-based leaders. Similar sentiments were echoed on social media.
Defending Pawan Kalyan's right to engage in politics across state borders, Chandrababu Naidu cited his own recent visit to Tamil Nadu for election campaigning. He noted that leaders from different states, including then Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, had participated in the campaign. Political parties and leaders, he said, routinely campaign beyond their home states as part of the democratic process.
He also pointed out that the BRS itself had sought to expand beyond Telangana by transforming itself into a national party and extending its activities to Andhra Pradesh.
Taking the argument further, Chandrababu referred to the growing presence of Telugu-origin leaders in countries such as the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Telugu people, he said, were serving in public offices across the world while functioning within the constitutional frameworks of their respective countries.
The controversy comes at a time when both the Telugu Desam Party and the JSP are attempting to rebuild their presence in Telangana ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections. At its recent annual conference, Mahanadu, the TDP passed a resolution expressing its intention to revive the party in the state.
Some political observers believe a stronger TDP–JSP presence could indirectly benefit the BJP in Telangana. At the same time, the Andhra Pradesh government's decision not to withdraw cases filed against Prof. Nageshwar has generated criticism in sections of Telangana's political and intellectual circles. These factors, combined with lingering sensitivities arising from the Telangana movement, have contributed to the current debate.
To assess whether Chandrababu Naidu's appeal is likely to be received in Telangana, The Week spoke with two political analysts, A. Sayee Sekhar and Prof. K. Nageshwar.
Both agreed that there was no legal or political obstacle to the TDP and the JSP carrying out activities in Telangana or contesting elections. They pointed out that the TDP contested the 2014 Assembly elections and won 15 seats, contested again in 2018 and won two seats, and later opted out of the 2023 elections. The party also contested the 2020 Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections, though it failed to win any seats. The JSP, meanwhile, contested the 2026 urban local body elections in Telangana, fielding candidates in more than 330 wards and winning two seats.
However, the two analysts differed on whether historical perceptions would affect the electoral prospects of the TDP and the JSP. Sayee Sekhar argued that resistance to the two parties stems from the political history of the Telangana movement. According to him, the second phase of the movement led by K. Chandrasekhar Rao was, in many ways, a challenge to the authority of Chandrababu Naidu. "The TDP and the JSP don't have their votes here. If they want to win, they need to earn the people's confidence. That will not be easy," he said.
Prof. Nageshwar disagreed, arguing that electoral success ultimately depends on voter support rather than regional perceptions. "Winning elections boils down to how many votes a party can secure. Chandrababu Naidu himself has won and lost elections in Andhra Pradesh. What matters is whether people have confidence in a party. If the TDP and the JSP can win sufficient votes, they can win seats here. They have every right to carry out political activities in Telangana and contest elections," he said.
Based on social media responses, it will not be easy for either party to return to Telangana. The JSP tried to enhance its appeal by stating that only sons of the soil will contest on its tickets. The TDP appears to be hoping to revive its old cadre network. Unless both parties work on the ground and build party networks, they won't be able to overcome the historical societal opposition. Their campaign against Prof. Nageshwar is only adding to this unease. However, they may not withdraw cases anytime soon due to two reasons. The parties appear to think they won't lose much from this dispute and that it won't have a substantial effect on the 2028 Assembly elections in Telangana.
