Popular actor and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan on Thursday met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
The two are understood to have discussed various issues including land acquisition for new state capital Amaravati, its development plan, special category status to the state and ensuing elections to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas met the actor-turned politician in Hyderabad in the morning and discussed the issues to come up at the meeting with Naidu.
They later left for Vijayawada in a special helicopter. Pawan drove straight to the chief minister's camp office.The meeting between Pawan and Naidu lasted for an hour. It assumed significance in view of some recent developments.Pawan, who had publicy opposed forcible acquisition of farmers' land for development of the state capital, conveyed to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief that he couldn't attend the foundation stone laying ceremony last month due to a film shooting.Naidu is believed to have explained the plans for development of Amaravati and sought his views on how to mobilise the remaining required land for the capital.In September, the actor had visited some villages in the capital region in Guntur district to show solidarity with farmers refusing to part with their land.
Pawan's visit had forced the TDP-led government to withdraw the land acquisition notice.Pawan and Naidu also discussed their plans for GHMC elections.Pawan had floated Jana Sena on the eve of general elections last year. The party did not contest elections but he campaigned for the TDP-BJP alliance in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.With the Election Commission recognising Jana Sena as a political party in Telangana last week, there has been talk in political circles that it will contest the GHMC polls.
Pawan, younger brother of superstar and Congress leader Chiranjeevi, is also not happy with the BJP-led NDA for the delay in according special status to Andhra Pradesh.In a series of tweets in August, Pawan had reminded Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his election promise to do justice to Andhra Pradesh.Political observers say in the wake of BJP's crushing defeat in Bihar elections, Naidu may mount pressure on Modi to grant special status and honour all other commitments made in Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.