Pawan Kalyan assumed office as Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister
Actor-politician Pawan Kalyan assumed office as Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister in Vijayawada on Wednesday. He will oversee the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, Rural Water Supply, Environment and Forests, and Science and Technology portfolios. The ceremony, marked by Vedic chants, saw several Janasena leaders and others congratulating him. Later, Pawan Kalyan is expected to hold review meetings with senior officials. Representing the Pithapuram assembly constituency, this is his first tenure as a minister.
The Janasena Party chief, Pawan Kalyan, will also manage the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, Rural Water Supply, Environment and Forests, and Science and Technology portfolios. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu assigned him these departments earlier this week.
Pawan Kalyan defeated YSR Congress Party’s Vanga Geetha in the Pithapuram assembly seat during the recent state elections, winning by over 70,000 votes. The Andhra Pradesh assembly elections were held on May 13, with results announced on June 4.
In the assembly and Lok Sabha elections, the Janasena Party achieved a 100 percent strike rate, winning all 21 assembly seats and both Lok Sabha seats it contested.
The TDP, Janasena Party, and BJP were part of the NDA in the elections, collectively securing 164 out of 175 seats. The TDP won 135 seats, and the BJP secured 8. On June 7, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Pawan Kalyan, calling him a “storm,” saying, “And what you see, Pawan, he is not a breeze; he is a storm.”
Initially hesitant to join the cabinet due to his busy acting schedule, Pawan Kalyan eventually decided to accept the role to fulfill the election promises. A Janasena leader stated, “He decided to join the cabinet, as it would give him some sense of responsibility in fulfilling the election promises.” Pawan Kalyan founded the Janasena Party in March 2014 but did not contest the elections that year.
Rahul Gandhi Celebrates 54th Birthday at Congress Headquarters
Political leaders across the country have taken to social media to wish the Rae Bareli MP Rahul Gandhi on his birthday today. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi celebrated his 54th birthday at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi on Wednesday. Political leaders across the country have taken to social media to wish the Rae Bareli MP on the occassion. Indian National Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also extended his greetings to Rahul Gandhi in a post on X. “Your unwavering commitment to the values espoused in the Constitution of India and your emphatic compassion for the millions of unheard voices, are the qualities which sets you apart,” Mallikarjun Kharge wrote.
Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin extended birthday wishes to the Congress leader. He said, “Happy Birthday, dear brother Rahul Gandhi! Your dedication to the people of our country will take you to great heights. Wishing you a year of continued progress and success.”
Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy posted on X, describing Rahul Gandhi as “the only leader to fulfil India’s aspirations for tomorrow”. He praised Rahul Gandhi saying “sacrifice is his inheritance and fighting his philosophy”.
