Pawan Jealous of TVK Vijay: Is He Regretting Supporting Chandrababu?

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Janasena Party chief Pawan Kalyan finally admitted his failure in politics and playing the second-fiddle. He visibly acknowledged the compromises he made for Chandrababu Naidu to become the AP CM again. Reflecting on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay’s swift political rise, Pawan admitted that he felt “jealous” watching the actor-turned-politician achieve massive success within a short span.

Pawan Kalyan, who supported Chandrababu Naidu and the TDP in 2014, later forged an alliance again in 2024 against YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. His remarks are now being viewed as an emotional reflection on his prolonged political struggle compared to Vijay’s meteoric rise in Tamil Nadu politics.

Speaking at a public event on Monday, Pawan Kalyan said that politics in Tamil Nadu appeared comparatively easier when he looked at the swift rise of Vijay and his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

“I look at Tamil Nadu politics these days and feel they did it so effortlessly. I felt jealous. They won happily with cutouts and holograms,” Pawan Kalyan said humorously while addressing party workers.

However, the actor-politician quickly turned emotional while reflecting on his own political journey.

“I have been roaming the streets for the last 15 years,” he said, referring to the struggles he faced since launching the Janasena Party.

Pawan Kalyan further explained the challenges involved in building and sustaining a political movement. He said managing a political party requires bringing together lakhs of people with differing opinions and expectations.

“We cannot get even our own family members to agree on one issue. Building a political party and trying to bring change in society is a huge risk,” he remarked.

The Janasena chief also reiterated that the political landscapes of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are vastly different and should not be directly compared. Earlier this month in Amaravati, he had defended his alliance-based political strategy, stating that Andhra Pradesh politics required a different approach and more patience.

Meanwhile, Vijay’s political rise has become one of the biggest talking points in South Indian politics. The actor launched TVK in 2024, and within two years, the party emerged victorious in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections by winning 108 seats. The victory ended the decades-long dominance of the DMK and AIADMK in the state and paved the way for Vijay to become the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

It looks like, Pawan Kalyan is realising his political blunders and regretting supporting Chandrababu Naidu.