Jana Sena spokesperson Pothina Mahesh resigns

In a significant development just 10 days before the general election notification, the opposition Jana Sena Party (JSP), a key component of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), faced a major setback in Vijayawada.
Pothina Venkata Mahesh, president of JSP Vijayawada and State official spokesperson, tendered his resignation from all party positions, including his primary membership, on Monday. His resignation was addressed to the party chief, Pawan Kalyan. The eve of the Telugu festival ‘Ugadi’ witnessed a significant blow to the JSP and its alliance partners, the TDP and BJP, in Vijayawada.
Pothina Venkata Mahesh, once a prominent contender for the Vijayawada-West constituency, was denied a ticket by the JSP leadership. This decision, made in favour of the BJP by JSP chief Pawan Kalyan, led to Mahesh’s disillusionment and subsequent resignation from the party.
Mahesh, who contested in the 2019 elections as a JSP candidate with the support of the CPI and CPM in the Vijayawada-West segment, had concentrated his efforts on securing a victory in this constituency to become an MLA.
The decision to sacrifice his candidature without consulting local leaders led Pothina Mahesh, a staunch follower of Pawan Kalyan, to exit the party. Despite his significant contributions to the party’s growth, Mahesh expressed his grievances against Pawan Kalyan and the party’s Political Affairs Committee Chairman, Nadendla Manohar, during his resignation announcement.
“Many leaders like me placed great faith in Pawan Kalyan, only to be disillusioned. His focus on party building and cadre development has been lacking. Pawan Kalyan’s decisions appear fleeting and temporary. His defeat in two constituencies in the previous election is evidence of people’s growing disillusionment with him. Families like mine are suffering due to his self-serving actions,” Mahesh alleged.
Furthermore, Mahesh criticised Pawan Kalyan’s failure to secure a minimum of 25 seats for contesting elections, casting doubt on the party’s future viability. He predicted the party’s closure within a year, citing a lack of clear direction from its leadership. Highlighting flaws in Pawan Kalyan’s leadership, Mahesh accused him of favouritism towards TDP candidates over dedicated JSP members. He also alleged injustice towards the Kapu community, warning them to be wary of Pawan Kalyan’s actions.
Additionally, Mahesh made serious allegations regarding Pawan Kalyan’s accumulation of assets post-entry into politics, contrasting it with the financial struggles faced by dedicated party members.
He claimed to possess strong evidence supporting these claims, promising to reveal them soon. However, he refrained from disclosing his future political affiliations.
“An actor cannot embody leadership. A true leader is someone who not only makes promises but also delivers tangible progress to their followers,” Venkata Mahesh said.
The Jana Sena Party (JSP) refrained from contesting the 2014 elections. Despite winning only one MLA seat in the 2019 polls, Jana Sainiks remained hopeful of party tickets being awarded to deserving, hard-working leaders in the upcoming 2024 elections.
Pawan Kalyan must address the concerns raised by the people of the State, as well as by Kapu youth and leaders such as myself. Pawan Kalyan has yet to provide a clear roadmap for developing the party and nurturing its cadre at the grassroots level. The loss of trust in the Jana Sena Party, under Pawan Kalyan’s leadership, is evident among the populace.
Given the party’s 21 MLA seats, what vision for the future does Pawan Kalyan offer to the people of the state?
While Janasainiks have sacrificed their properties to bolster the party’s foundation, its leadership has amassed significant earnings.