Pawan Kalyan faces a wave of online trolling

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan is facing relentless trolling on social media, as netizens take aim at his recent political statements and actions. The actor-turned-politician, known for his fiery rhetoric and alliance with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has become the subject of widespread memes and criticism.

Kalyan’s remarks on the ongoing language debate associated with the National Education Policy (NEP) sparked the latest wave of backlash. He recently criticized Tamil Nadu’s ruling party, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), accusing them of “hypocrisy”—claiming they oppose Hindi imposition while benefiting from Hindi-dubbed Tamil films. His remarks provoked sharp reactions, including one from actor Prakash Raj, who slammed Kalyan for allegedly pushing a pro-Hindi agenda and disregarding regional identities.

Adding fuel to the fire, social media users unearthed Kalyan’s 2017 post advocating for a “United States of South India,” questioning his current stance and sarcastically asking, “Where’s that South Indian unity now, Pawan garu?”

Flip-flops and fuel for trolls

Beyond the language debate, Kalyan’s political alliances have also become a focal point for online critics. His partnership with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has revived old criticisms, with users mocking his shifting political alignments. One viral comment read, “Pawan deletes old tweets faster than he changes ideologies,” referencing his history of scrubbing past social media posts. Others highlighted his 2022 appearance on Balakrishna’s talk show, despite previously criticizing people in the actor’s circle, using memes to call out perceived inconsistencies.

Even his public appearances have been subject to criticism.

Memes

A widely circulated image from a recent rally, where supporters praised his “aura,” was met with counterattacks from detractors, who labeled his traditional attire as “more Muslim than Maulanas,” accusing him of pandering to BJP’s voter base. Additionally, his silence on allegations involving JSP leaders has drawn criticism, with trolls questioning his previous vocal support for women’s issues.

As Pawan Kalyan continues his political journey, the internet remains an unpredictable battleground, where every statement and action is scrutinized, dissected, and turned into meme material.