Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu’s swift intervention has quelled the unrest within the alliance government following Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s strong criticism of the “police inaction” on objectionable social media posts. Naidu was quick to sense the mood swing in Pawan Kalyan and immediately directed the police to curb such activities on social media. The top brass of the state police plunged into action targeting the “social psychos.
” Within two days, several social media activists were arrested or taken into custody for their objectionable and abusive posts. It was on November 4 that Pawan Kalyan launched a scathing attack at Pithapuram on the state police and home minister Vangalapudi Anitha “for the deterioration in the law and order situation” in the state. This raised eye-brows over a likely worsening of relations between the TD and Jana Sena.
However, after the intervention of Naidu, home minister Anitha met Kalyan and explained matters. The ice, sources say, was broken. Pawan Kalyan, citing the state police’s inaction, had called for strong steps in AP, as were taken by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath against criminals and anti-social elements there.
Pawan’s sudden outbursts against home minister Anitha came in the context of the rape and murder of a three-year-old girl on November 1 in Tirupati district and some social media indulgences. Adding to the political suspense, the Deputy CM got a call from Union home minis.