Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Anitha Vangalapudi met Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party leader Pawan Kalyan on Thursday, 7 November, to discuss law and order issues and address recent tensions. This meeting came after Kalyan publicly criticized Anitha on 4 November, stating that he would take over the Home Ministry if the minister failed to act on rising crimes against women.
Kalyan’s remarks, made during a meeting in Pithapuram, had caused concern, with him warning that the situation could worsen if the government didn’t take stronger actions. The comments also sparked a communal controversy, with Manda Krishna Madiga, leader of the Madiga Poratta Samithi, condemning the public humiliation of a Madiga community member.
However, Anitha chose to downplay the incident, calling Kalyan’s words “friendly advice.” She expressed understanding of his concerns and reiterated her commitment to addressing issues affecting women in the state. “I take Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s words positively. It serves as an alert to be more aggressive towards criminals,” she said after the meeting.
After Kalyan’s return from Delhi, where he was reportedly summoned by Union Minister Amit Shah to discuss the matter, Anitha met him on the advice of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. During their conversation, she explained the steps her department had taken to improve law and order in the state.
In a social media post, Anitha shared that Kalyan had emphasized the importance of focusing on crimes against women and children. He encouraged her to take strict action against those committing such offenses. Anitha assured that the NDA government in the state would continue to work for the welfare of the people.
The meeting between Anitha and Kalyan appears to have resolved their differences, marking a step towards greater cooperation in the government.
