The Raju community in Andhra Pradesh is increasingly disillusioned with the current NDA alliance government, particularly due to the treatment meted out to Pithapuram Varma by Jana Sena leader Nagababu.
Varma, who had stood firmly behind the alliance and sacrificed the Pithapuram seat for Pawan Kalyan, now question the rationale of his loyalty.
Rajus' sentiment is clear: if a respected figure like Varma can be sidelined post-victory, what guarantees do they have of fair treatment in the future?
This isn’t the first time the Raju community has felt betrayed.
Even during the YSRCP regime, they were deeply hurt by the way Raghurama Raju was treated. That collective disappointment led to their united stand against Jagan’s government.
Though the Rajus are not numerically dominant, their unity and influence across social and political spheres make them a force to reckon with. They also play a significant role in shaping opinions in other communities.
The current crisis is also exposing fault lines within the Kapu community.
While some argue that Pawan Kalyan’s win is purely a result of his charisma, others highlight how he hesitated to contest until he secured a Kapu-dominant seat.
He bypassed several constituencies fearing defeat and eventually displaced Varma to claim Pithapuram. Post-victory, leaders like Nagababu have projected an image of arrogance, irritating the Rajus further.
Pawan Kalyan is now being compared to Lokesh Nara, who, despite losing in Mangalagiri in 2019, stayed grounded, worked hard, and won back trust in 2024.
In contrast, Pawan abandoned Gajuwaka and Bheemavaram post-defeat and chose Pithapuram purely for electoral gain.
The Rajus believe this is not leadership but opportunism — and it’s time he learned what true accountability and respect for allies really means.