Pawan Kalyan to be Andhra Pradesh deputy CM as Naidu hands out portfolios

Jana Sena Party (JSP) chief Konidela Pawan Kalyan will be deputy chief minister of Andhra Pradesh as the N Chandrababu Naidu government allots portfolios to its ministers on Friday.

Pawan Kalyan will also be minister for Panchayati Raj and Rural Development with additional portfolios of Environment and Forests, and Science and Technology.

The 55-year-old actor-turned politician won from Pithapuram Assembly constituency in the recently concluded elections.

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Earlier in the day, Kalyan’s X handle had reposted a post addressing him as the deputy chief minister, dropping a hint that an announcement to this effect is expected.

Speaking to The Indian Express, a Jana Sena leader said, “We were hopeful that he will be rewarded for the work he has done before the elections.”

Pawan Kalyan is largely credited for bringing the BJP and Telugu Desam Party together in a pre-poll alliance. A TDP source said, “The one and only Pawan Kalyan alone was eligible for the post of deputy chief minister.”

Jana Sena sources said that Pawan Kalyan “is happy” with the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development portfolio as he had earlier said that he wants to bring “gram swaraj” to Andhra Pradesh. Kalyan had also “personally requested” for the Environment and Forests portfolio as he wants to curb red sand smuggling in Andhra Pradesh and reduce instances of human-animal conflict, the sources said.

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The state’s Home Minister will be TDP leader V Anita.

CM Naidu’s son, N Lokesh Naidu, will be IT and Human Resources Development minister.

Portfolios allotted Friday were: