c pradeep kumar
Actor-turned-politician and Jana Sena Party (JSP) chief, Pawan Kalyan, who floated the party about 12 years ago, is facing challenges in fielding candidates for 21 Assembly constituencies and two Lok Sabha segments allotted to the JSP within the TDP-TDP-BJP-JSP alliance for the upcoming 2024 general elections. Notably, out of the 21 Assembly and two Lok Sabha segments, Pawan Kalyan is relying heavily on alliance partners to nominate candidates.
With a focus on garnering support from the Kapu community for the 2024 elections in the State, Pawan Kalyan’s decision to align with the main opposition party, Telugu Desam, has raised questions. His confidence in winning his own seat, initially contested from Bhimavaram and Gajuwaka, waned, leading to a decision to contest from Pithapuram.
Previously, Pawan had expressed readiness to lead the State as chief minister if elected by the people. However, during a recent public meeting in the Pithapuram Assembly constituency, his plea to voters to secure him a seat in the AP Legislative Assembly once again highlighted a lack of confidence among the populace, Jana Sena supporters, and women.
Allegations of injustice have surfaced within the JSP regarding the recent seat allocations, particularly among party members who have remained loyal since 2019, following the party’s defeat in previous elections.
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Despite calls from Kapu leaders and intellectuals to negotiate a more substantial share in seat distribution, Pawan Kalyan appeared content with initially offered 24 Assembly seats and three Lok Sabha seats, which were later reduced to 21 Assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats, causing discontent among party leaders.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has exerted considerable influence within the JSP, fielding TDP candidates in more than half of the allotted 21 Assembly constituencies.
The inclusion of candidates from other political parties has led ruling party leaders to dub Pawan Kalyan as a “Package Star.”
Original JSP candidates have been fielded in Nellimarla, Kakinada Rural, Narsapuram, Tadepalligudem, Polavaram, Tenali, Elamanchali, Nidadavolu, Rajanagaram, Razole, and a few other locations. Pawan Kalyan, now contesting from Pithapuram, could not retain his previous Assembly segments of Bhimavaram and Gajuwaka.
Several candidates have been relocated from their original constituencies, such as Kandula Durgesh, originally from Rajahmundry, who was moved to Nidadavolu to accommodate a TDP candidate.
Panchakarla Ramesh Babu, who joined JSP after leaving the ruling YSRCP, has been nominated for the Pendurthi seat.
Pulaparthi Anjineyulu, formerly of TDP and a contestant in 2019, joined JSP and secured a ticket, being a close relative of TDP leader Ganta Srinivasa Rao.
Konathala Ramakrishna, a former minister who recently joined JSP, secured an MLA ticket from Anakapalli.
A Srinivasulu, a sitting MLA from YSRCP who recently joined JSP, was nominated by Pavan Turpati, the assembly nominee for Turpati.
Former TDP MLA Sugunnama, expected to receive the Tirupati ticket, was replaced by Srinivasulu.
Vamsi Krishna Yadav, a YSRCP MLC who was disqualified, received a JSP ticket from Visakhapatnam South.
On Monday, Mandali Budhha Prasad, a former Minister and Deputy Speaker during the Congress and TDP regime, joined JSP and was announced as the Avanigadda Assembly candidate. TDP’s former MLA Nimmaka Jaya Krishna also joined JSP on Monday and is likely to secure the Palakonda ticket.
Interestingly, Pawan also replaced the candidate from Railway Koduru on Friday.
The Machilipatnam LS candidate, Balashowry, hails from the ruling YSRCP.
A majority of the other candidates have close affiliations with TDP.
