Pawan Kalyan takes charge as Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister | Watch

Pawan Kalyan will handle the panchayat raj and rural development, rural water supply, environment and forests, and science and technology portfolios.

Published on: Jun 19, 2024, 13:17:01 IST

By HT News Desk

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Actor-politician Pawan Kalyan took charge as Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister in Vijaywada on Wednesday. Pawan Kalyan took charge at a ceremony accompanied by Vedic chants.

Pawan Kalyan will also be handling the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development; Rural Water Supply; Environment and Forests; and Science and Technology portfolios. (ANI/File)

Several Janasena leaders and others congratulated Pawan Kalyan on assuming office. Later, the deputy chief minister is expected to meet senior officials for review meetings. Pawan Kalyan represents the Pithapuram assembly constituency in the southern state and is a first-time minister.

The Janasena Party chief will also handle 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.

ALSO READ: Renuka Desai hits back at troll commenting on her divorce with Pawan Kalyan: He was the one who left me and remarried

Pawan Kalyan defeated his rival YSR Congress Party's Vanga Geetha from the Pithapuram assembly seat in the recently concluded state polls.Pawan Kalyan won the contest with a margin of over 70,000 votes. The Andhra Pradesh assembly elections were held on May 13 and the results were announced on June 4.

In the assembly and Lok Sabha elections, the Janasena Party had a 100 per cent strike rate winning all 21 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats it contested on.

The TDP, Janasena Party and BJP were part of the NDA in the elections, with three parties bagging 164 seats out of the total 175. The TDP won 135 seats, while the BJP 8.

ALSO READ: Pawan Kalyan Deputy CM, Nara Lokesh IT minister in Andhra Pradesh government as Chandrababu Naidu allots portfolios

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier praised Pawan Kalyan terming him a “storm” on June 7. “And what you see, Pawan, he is not a breeze; he is a storm,” Modi has said.

Pawan Kalyan was hesitant to join the cabinet owing to his busy acting schedule. However, “He decided to join the cabinet, as it would give him some sense of responsibility in fulfilling the election promises,” a Janasena leader earlier told HT.

Pawan Kalyan founded the Janasena Party in March 2014 but did not choose to contest in the elections that year.

ALSO READ: Andhra Pradesh portfolios: N Chandrababu Naidu keeps Law & Order, Pawan Kalyan named Deputy CM | Full List

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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