Pawan Kalyan Cancels Telangana Campaign Tour
The political landscape in Telangana shifted unexpectedly today as Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party (JSP) chief, Pawan Kalyan, cancelled his highly anticipated campaign for the 2026 municipal elections. Initially scheduled for February 7 and 8, the tour was intended to bolster the prospects of the JSP-BJP alliance across several key municipalities and corporations.
According to official communications from the Bharatiya Janata Party, the visit was called off due to a sudden “minor health issue” affecting the JSP leader. This news came as a surprise to candidates in over 336 wards where Jana Sena is fielding contestants under the “Glass Tumbler” symbol. Supporters and party workers, who had made extensive arrangements for massive roadshows in districts like Nalgonda, expressed significant disappointment at the last-minute change.
However, political analysts suggest that the cancellation might also be linked to simmering tensions following Kalyan’s previous remarks regarding the “evil eye” on the Konaseema region. These comments had sparked backlash from Telangana ministers, who demanded an apology before he stepped foot in the state for political rallies. The Congress government, led by CM Revanth Reddy, had already questioned the BJP’s decision to bring in an Andhra leader for local Telangana polls.
Despite the cancellation of his physical tour, the Jana Sena leadership clarified that the party remains fully committed to its alliance with the NDA. Pawan Kalyan reportedly encouraged his party cadre to continue their efforts at the grassroots level and ensure coordination with BJP allies. The alliance is facing a tough triangular contest against the ruling Congress and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) as the state heads to the polls on February 11.
With only a few days left before the polling date, the absence of the star campaigner has forced the BJP and JSP to rework their final strategies. While the ruling Congress is focusing on its welfare guarantees and the BRS is highlighting its urban development record, the NDA combine is now relying heavily on local leaders like Bandi Sanjay and Dharmapuri Arvind to maintain momentum in the high-stakes municipal battle.
