Sustaining a career in politics is no easy feat, especially in the complex and competitive world of Telugu state politics. Former Janasena leader and ex-CBI Joint Director, JD Lakshmi Narayana, is one such example of a political figure whose journey highlights the importance of timing and strategic alignment.

JD Lakshmi Narayana was initially an integral part of Janasena and received significant respect from party chief Pawan Kalyan, especially ahead of the 2019 elections. He was given the highly coveted Vizag MP ticket, but despite his prominence, JD finished in third place, behind candidates from the YCP and TDP. This defeat, along with Janasena's underperformance in the 2019 elections, seems to have caused JD to question his political future, and he gradually distanced himself from the party.

In his bid to create a personal political identity, JD launched his own party, Navabharath, in the run-up to the 2024 elections. However, his new party struggled to make an impact, particularly in the face of the powerful NDA wave, leading to its failure. Had JD remained loyal to Pawan Kalyan and the Janasena through the challenging 2019-2024 period, he could have potentially been rewarded in the form of an MLA ticket, despite the competition for the Vizag MP seat due to the presence of TDP’s Bharath.

JD’s strong academic background, clean image, and reformist stance made him a great candidate for a ministerial role. His decision to leave Janasena, especially as the party's influence began to rise, cost him valuable opportunities. Today, with Pawan Kalyan enjoying power within the state government, JD’s absence from the political scene serves as a reminder of the significance of timing in leadership.

A contrast to JD’s path is the example of Nadendla Manohar, who remained loyal to Pawan Kalyan during tough times and is now a powerful figure in the government, serving as the Civil Supplies Minister and holding a key position within Janasena. Manohar's loyalty has clearly paid off, while JD’s departure from the party left him politically irrelevant in comparison.

JD’s political career offers a lesson in the importance of timing, placement, and strategic decisions in the world of politics. Unfortunately, for him, his political journey has become a classic example of what can go wrong when a leader misreads the pulse of the people and the timing of key decisions.