Vijayawada: Wide discussions are happening across the state on the Jana Sena contesting along with the TD in the 2019 general elections.
TD leaders are exuding confidence that though not now, the Jana Sena will eventually announce its alliance with the TD and the BJP.
The Jana Sena’s focus is currently on strengthening its party organisational structure. The Jana Sena, which supported the TD in 2014 general elections, has continued its cordial relations with the ruling party. After the denial of special category status to the state, the Jana Sena opposed the BJP but maintained the relation with the TD. Though Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan criticised TD MPs not fighting for special category status and other issues, the TD as party had not reacted except for a few MPs and leaders.
There are speculations that the TD was using Pawan Kalyan to dilute issues by addressing them without giving scope for opposition YSRC. The TD government instantly reacted even on GO No. 64 on agriculture students as soon as Pawan Kalyan addressed the issue.
The government’s invitation to Pawan Kalyan to the Secretariat and giving him red carpet welcome and making the chief secretary give a powerpoint presentation to the Jana Sena chief on Uddanam issue roused many speculations. There is skepticism among all on the government attitude towards Pawan Kalyan and vice versa. Even the TD strongly believes the Jana Sena would support to it in 2019 general elections like in 2014.
A TD leader said Pawan Kalyan openly denying his support to TD in Nandyal bypolls and Kakinada Municipal Corporation elections is a part of strategy.
Minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy said, “The Jana Sena supported the TD in 2014 general elections and the alliance is still continuing. Mr Kalyan is keenly focusing on some issues which the government is addressing instantly.”
A Jana Sena leader said though they supported the TD-BJP alliance in 2014 elections, the same might not continue in 2019. “Right now, we are focusing on the party’s organisational structure, but not on alliance for contesting in 2019 elections,” he said.
Jana Sena may fight alone in 2019
The Jana Sena, which confidently announced of contesting in 2019 general elections, had not yet given clarity on its alliance with the TD.
Though it is too early, Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan’s announcement of contesting according to their strength is raising skepticism among public. Meanwhile, it has completed its selection of leaders at district level by conducting exams. It is now ready to launch its membership drive.
According to sources, it is thinking of contesting independently in 2019 general elections. It is intending to contest in places where it has stronghold and possess strong leaders, instead of all 175 constituencies in Andhra Pradesh, and is also planning to contest in a few places of TS as well.
A Jana Sena leader shared on the condition of anonymity that there are speculations of the Jana Sena allying with the TD in 2019 general elections, but the decision has not been taken yet, as the Jana Sena is thinking of contesting independently.
Contesting in alliance with the TD was not favourable for the Jana Sena or its chief, he said. All these speculations will be ruled out once the decision is taken at an appropriate time, but not right away, as currently our focus is on strengthening the organisational structure, he said.
