iTDP, YSRCP warn cadres against personal attacks on Pawan Kalyan after separation announcement

The TDP-affiliated iTDP social media wing has issued a warning against personal attacks on Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and his family after he announced his separation from his wife, Anna Konidala.

The wing said inappropriate posts, discussions and comments would not be tolerated, and warned of disciplinary action against accounts associated with the organisation that post such content.

“Dignity in public discourse is non-negotiable. iTDP will not tolerate personal attacks on anyone, from any side,” its message said.

The YSRCP Central Office also issued an official notice to party leaders, spokespersons, cadres and social media activists, asking them to refrain from public statements, online discussions and content sharing about the personal lives of political leaders. “Please respect privacy and exercise discretion in public communication,” the notice read.

The parallel instructions are significant given the intense political rivalry between the two parties. Pawan Kalyan has often been at the centre of the fight between the two camps, and personal references have at times crept into the political discourse.

Pawan Kalyan announced his separation from Anna on November 9 through a joint statement shared on social media. The couple asked well-wishers for “understanding, kindness, and respect for our privacy” during what they called a personal transition, and thanked everyone who had stood by them.

Kalyan married Anna in 2013, and they have two children, Polena Anjana Pawanova and Mark Shankar Pawanovich. It is the third marriage for the Jana Sena leader. Previously, he was to married Renu Desai and the two parted ways in 2012. They share two children, Akira Nandan and Aadhya.

Kalyan, a film star turned politician, has served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh since 2024. His party, Jana Sena, is part of the ruling alliance in the state.