Actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan officially took charge as the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in a ceremonial event held in Vijayawada on Wednesday. Accompanied by Vedic chants, Kalyan’s induction into office was celebrated by several leaders of the Janasena Party and well-wishers.
Kalyan, who represents the Pithapuram assembly constituency, assumed his responsibilities as a minister for the first time. His portfolio includes Panchayat Raj, Rural Development, Rural Water Supply, Environment and Forests, and Science and Technology, as assigned by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu earlier this week.
The actor-politician emerged victorious in the recent state elections, defeating his rival from the YSR Congress Party with a significant margin of over 70,000 votes. The Janasena Party, under Kalyan’s leadership, achieved a 100% success rate by winning all 21 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats it contested in alliance with the TDP and BJP, forming the NDA coalition that secured 164 seats out of 175 in total.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had previously lauded Pawan Kalyan’s political impact, describing him as a formidable force in Andhra Pradesh politics. Despite initial reservations due to his acting commitments, Kalyan chose to accept the cabinet position, motivated by a sense of responsibility towards fulfilling electoral promises made by the Janasena Party.
Founded in March 2014, the Janasena Party, under Pawan Kalyan’s leadership, has grown to influence state politics significantly, marking his transition from cinema to public service.
