A potential seat-sharing agreement between the BJP and actor-politician Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena for the upcoming Assembly elections in Telangana appears to be in doubt.BJP leaders are presently in Delhi, finalizing the list of candidates, making an alliance less likely.
Pawan Kalyan is facing pressure from Jana Sena Party (JSP) members in Telangana to contest the elections this time.The party has already released a list of 32 seats they aim to contest, with a focus on urban areas, particularly around Hyderabad.
These areas are also where the BJP holds significant support, making seat-sharing complex.
State BJP president G.Kishan Reddy and party MP K.Laxman met with Pawan Kalyan recently, urging him to campaign for BJP candidates.However, Pawan Kalyan expressed his party’s intention to contest at least 30 seats.He reminded them of his previous support for TDP and BJP candidates in Andhra Pradesh in 2014.
Pawan Kalyan emphasized that contesting a substantial number of seats in Telangana is crucial for his party’s morale.While details of the meeting were not disclosed, there have been no indications from the BJP camp suggesting a strong interest in an electoral alliance with JSP.The BJP has consistently stated their intent to contest the Telangana elections independently.
Jana Sena Party is an NDA ally, and Pawan Kalyan recently announced an alliance with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh for the upcoming polls.
However, this alliance may not extend to Telangana.TDP, facing a crisis due to the arrest of its leader Chandrababu Naidu, has been uncertain about its plans for Telangana elections.
JSP has released a list of 32 Assembly seats they aim to contest, which includes constituencies with a substantial number of voters of Andhra origin.Pawan Kalyan’s popularity, particularly among young voters, is a potential advantage for the party.
The party also hopes to gain support from people from Andhra Pradesh, often referred to as ‘settlers’.
While the BJP asserts a strong base in these urban constituencies, JSP had refrained from fielding candidates in the 2018 Assembly elections to avoid creating political uncertainty.
This time, however, Pawan Kalyan is under pressure from Telangana leaders who insist on contesting to maintain party morale.
Despite fielding four candidates in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Telangana, JSP didn’t secure victories.
In a recent meeting with Pawan Kalyan, JSP leaders emphasized that not contesting the elections in Telangana this time might demoralize party cadres.
In June, Pawan Kalyan appointed in-charges for 26 Assembly constituencies in Telangana, signaling the party’s intent to participate in the upcoming elections.
He stressed the need to fulfill the aspirations of the Telangana movement, acknowledging the sacrifices made by many for the separate state.
