Jana Sena in Civic Poll Fray Makes BJP Tense

Hyderabad: The Telangana unit of the BJP may have some uneasy moments with Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena announcing its foray into the upcoming urban local body elections, including to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.

While elections to 100-odd municipalities and six corporations are likely to be held in February, the expanded GHMC will go for polls sometime this year.

Jana Sena state in-charge N. Shankar Goud told Deccan Chronicle that the party would field its candidates in municipalities and corporations where the party enjoyed support.

“Over more than a decade, Jana Sena has developed a cadre base in several parts of Telangana. Party leaders are enthusiastic and want to make electoral gains, and our president, Pawan Kalyan, is also keen on providing an opportunity for those serving the party for a decade and more,” Goud said.

According to party leaders, Pawan Kalyan gave the go-ahead during his recent visit to the Kondagattu Sri Anjaneya temple. The actor-turned-politician, an ardent follower of Lord Hanuman, had got the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams to sanction Rs 35.19 crore for improving amenities at the Kondagattu temple, including a 96-room guest house in the temple town.

Jana Sena leaders were of the view that the strong fan base of Pawan Kalyan and a considerable number of people from Andhra Pradesh could play a decisive role in the polls.

With regard to the poll pact with the NDA partner BJP, that is in place in AP, the Jana Sena kept its options open and left it to Pawan Kalyan to tackle.

The BJP, however, is in no mood to entertain alliance proposals, with party state chief N. Ramchander Rao announcing that his party would go it alone.

Speaking to this correspondent, Rao said the situation in the two Telugu states was different and the BJP had been contesting the elections on its own in Telangana.

“We enjoy good support in the urban areas and can win elections without any alliance,” he said. Rao, however, sought to play safe, stating that the party high command would handle the issue of striking alliances.

BJP sources maintained that Jana Sena was not of much use in the Jubilee Hills byelection in November, though the party campaigned for its candidate.

“The alliance with Jana Sena will raise questions on Telugu Desam’s role, and given the tense situation building up in the backdrop ofthe  river water sharing tiff, it would be better for us to go alone,” said a senior BJP leader.