The political climate in Andhra Pradesh has recently been inflamed by a controversy stemming from the use of a dialogue from the upcoming film Pushpa 2. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) are at loggerheads over what the TDP views as the YSRCP's endorsement of violence through the use of this dialogue. At the center of the storm is Nara Lokesh, a prominent TDP leader and current Minister for Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, Real Time Governance and Human Resources Development in Andhra Pradesh. He has vociferously condemned former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy and the YSRCP for allegedly promoting a culture of violence.

The controversy began when a flex banner, displayed during a recent visit by YSRCP president Jagan Mohan Reddy to the Palnadu district, featured a dialogue from Pushpa 2. The dialogue in question suggests a bloodbath would occur if the YSRCP were to regain power in 2029, stating, "Once YSRCP comes to power in 2029, we'll chop heads one by one like at Gangamma Jatara… Rappa Rappa.” Gangamma Jatara is a folk festival held in Tirupati, known for animal sacrifices. The banner’s violent tone drew immediate criticism, and a case was registered against Ravi Teja, the YSRCP worker responsible for displaying it, following a complaint by the TDP.

Jagan Mohan Reddy's response to the controversy has further fueled the fire. When questioned by the media, he downplayed the issue, asking, "Isn't it a movie dialogue? Which movie is it from? So, what's wrong with using a film dialogue on a banner? Aren't we still in a democracy?" He even went on to repeat the dialogue and mimic the signature hand gesture of actor Allu Arjun, eliciting laughter from those present. This reaction was not well-received by everyone, particularly Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

Nara Lokesh has been one of the most outspoken critics of Jagan's stance. He posted a clip of Reddy justifying the dialogue and slammed him, questioning whether he intended to "slaughter them like sheep." Lokesh went on to say, "What does it mean that you are defending the language of your admirer? Your attitude is very dangerous for democracy.” Lokesh ended his post on X with the hashtags #BloodOnYourHandsJagan and #PsychoFekuJagan, clearly conveying the intensity of his disapproval. Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav echoed Lokesh's sentiment, questioning who exactly the YSRCP was planning to kill when they say, "People will be killed, rappa rappa."

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has also weighed in on the matter, cautioning against normalizing violence depicted in cinema. He questioned the appropriateness of using film dialogues, particularly those with violent undertones, in political contexts. Naidu further stated, “If there is a dialogue in films that is a joke, can it be put on a banner? Do you think that people are killed in movies and it is okay to kill them outside? Do you think that because rape is shown in films, it is acceptable outside as well?” He also alluded to the murder of Jagan's uncle, YS Vivekananda Reddy, to criticize what he sees as Jagan's irresponsible behavior.

The Pushpa 2 dialogue controversy is not the first time Nara Lokesh has attacked Jagan Mohan Reddy. Lokesh has consistently criticized Jagan's previous governance, particularly in the education sector. He has accused Jagan of ruining the state's education system, citing a decline in government school enrollment and poor performance of students. Lokesh has also criticized the previous administration for politicizing universities.

This recent spat highlights the deep-seated political rivalry between the TDP and YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh. The use of a film dialogue as a political tool has only served to escalate tensions and underscore the opposing ideologies of the two parties. As the state moves forward, it remains to be seen how this controversy will impact the political landscape and the relationship between these two prominent leaders.