Criticising YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders for their remarks against Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, MLA Arani Srinivasulu stated that the YSRCP is exploiting the alleged custodial death of Gade Sai Krishna, a Kapu youth.

Addressing the media at his office in Tirupati on Monday (June 22, 2026), he stated that the public would reject the YSRCP’s conspiracies to cast a ‘casteist image’ of Pawan Kalyan, a leader who genuinely works for the well-being of the country and society.

Mr. Srinivasulu said, “The YSRCP Kapu leaders, in a meeting at Konaseema, claimed that the Kapu community is facing injustice under the two-year rule of the NDA. However, the YSRCP has a history of backstabbing the Kapu and Balija communities.”

He further stated that the YSRCP has no moral standing to question Pawan Kalyan—who advocates against caste politics—regarding his election contest from Pithapuram. He questioned whether YSRCP chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had the courage to contest from a constituency other than Pulivendula.

“When a police officer assaulted Kotte Sai, an ordinary party worker, in Srikalahasti, Pawan Kalyan visited Sai along with the Superintendent of Police (SP), and boosted the morale of the Jana Sena cadre. Sai was appointed as Srikalahasti Devasthanam chairman,” the MLA said.

He alleged that Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy did not give a position to even a single ordinary party worker. He stated that the Kapu Corporation was rendered ineffective during the five-year YSRCP regime. He pointed out that the YSRCP government also failed to provide scholarships to Kapu students.