Naidu defends Pawan Kalyan after Hyderabad meeting denial, slams Telangana critics
Synopsis
Twelve years after bifurcation, the Andhra-Telangana fault line is back in play. Chandrababu Naidu's public defence of Pawan Kalyan — after Hyderabad denied the Jana Sena chief permission to hold a meeting — turns a local permit row into a coalition-era signal: the NDA's Telugu bloc will not let Telangana's Congress-BRS politics dictate where its leaders can speak.
Key Takeaways
Chandrababu Naidu defended Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan on 3 June after he was denied permission for a public meeting in Hyderabad .
Naidu said leaders can hold meetings anywhere, citing his own campaigning in Tamil Nadu .
Shivakumar of Karnataka campaigning in Tamil Nadu as precedent.
The TDP chief pointed out that the BRS had itself expanded into Andhra Pradesh after declaring national-party status.
Naidu warned Telangana leaders against inciting animosity 12 years after state bifurcation.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday came out in strong defence of Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, who is facing a sharp backlash in Telangana over remarks he made after being denied permission to hold a public meeting in Hyderabad. Naidu termed the denial of permission undemocratic, asserting that any leader has the right to hold a public meeting anywhere in the country.
Naidu's pushback
Speaking to reporters in Amaravati on 3 June, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national president said the criticism directed at the Jana Sena chief by Telangana leaders did not reflect a 'sound approach' and warned against statements that stoke avoidable friction between the two Telugu-speaking states.
“It has been 12 years since the bifurcation took place; we have separated into two distinct states. Certain leaders in Telangana cannot simply speak up now and incite animosity,” Naidu said, adding that the public was 'well aware of who has done what for which region'.
Cross-border campaigning argument
The Chief Minister invoked the precedent of leaders campaigning across state lines to bolster his case. He pointed to his own recent campaigning in Tamil Nadu and noted that Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, along with several national-level figures, had also travelled to the state to canvass votes.
“Leaders from all regions, including those from Karnataka and national-level figures, visited Tamil Nadu to campaign,” he said, framing the Hyderabad denial as inconsistent with established political practice.
Pointed reference to BRS
Naidu reserved a sharper line for the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), observing that the party had itself sought a pan-India footprint. “The BRS declared itself a national party and even established a presence in Andhra Pradesh, stating that it intended to expand its operations. Given this, I simply cannot understand why they are speaking in this manner now,” he said, also flagging the Congress as active in the state.
A wider frame
The TDP chief widened the lens to highlight that people of Telugu origin hold constitutional positions in the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, performing their duties under those countries' respective constitutions. “The competition should be in the realms of development and public service. The competition should not be in creating division among people,” he said.
What's next
The row underscores fresh strain in Andhra-Telangana political relations 12 years after bifurcation, with the Hyderabad meeting denial likely to remain a flashpoint between the ruling NDA partners in Andhra Pradesh and the Congress-led dispensation in Telangana in the days ahead.
Point of View
Any slight in Telangana is read as a political signal — and Naidu's quick, full-throated defence reflects how tightly the TDP-Jana Sena bond is now wired. The deeper subtext is that bifurcation grievances remain a usable political resource on both sides, twelve years on. Until Hyderabad's contested legacy is settled by time rather than rhetoric, expect more such flare-ups whenever a cross-border meeting is proposed.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Chandrababu Naidu defend Pawan Kalyan?
Naidu defended his deputy after Pawan Kalyan was denied permission to hold a public meeting in Hyderabad and then faced criticism from Telangana leaders over his subsequent remarks. The Andhra CM argued that in a democracy any leader can hold a meeting anywhere and that the criticism was politically motivated.
What did Pawan Kalyan face backlash for in Telangana?
The Jana Sena chief faced backlash from Telangana political leaders over comments he made after being denied permission to hold a public meeting in Hyderabad. Naidu said such criticism did not reflect a 'sound approach' and risked stoking animosity between the two states.
What did Naidu say about the BRS in his response?
Naidu pointed out that the Bharat Rashtra Samithi had itself declared national-party status and set up a presence in Andhra Pradesh to expand operations. He questioned why BRS leaders were now objecting to a cross-border political meeting in Hyderabad.
How did Naidu justify cross-state political campaigning?
He cited his own recent campaigning in Tamil Nadu and noted that Karnataka Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar and several national-level leaders also travelled there to campaign. Naidu argued this was standard democratic practice.
Why is this row significant 12 years after bifurcation?
The episode signals that political grievances tied to the 2014 bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh remain a live flashpoint, particularly around Hyderabad. It also tests the NDA's Telugu axis — TDP and Jana Sena — against the Congress-led government in Telangana.
