Andhra Pradesh elections: In triangular fights, Janasena will play decisive role in key constituencies
Umamaheswara Rao | TNN | Mar 16, 2019, 10:59 IST
VISAKHAPATNAM: Janasena may play the role of a kingmaker in several key constituencies, notwithstanding the number of seats it is going to win in the upcoming elections.
In 2014, Janasena founder Pawan Kalyan had campaigned aggressively for TDP and is said to have played a crucial role in the party coming to power.
Five years later, political equations have changed with Jana Sena entering the electoral fray for the first time, making it a three-way contest.
Will Pawan Kalyn’s impact would be limited to merely upsetting the TDP and YSRC applecart? Or will the Jana Sena leader become the kingmaker?
For example, in 2014, 46 MLAs won by a majority of less than 5,000 votes in a bipolar contest between TDP and YSRC. Even if Jana Sena logs 10,000 votes in key constituencies, it would turn the tables around.
Jana Sena is expected to capitalise on anti-incumbency as well as garnering ‘silent voters’. Besides enjoying the support of the dominant Kapu community, the youth may rally behind Pawan Kalyan. If the vote bank which worked for TDP in 2014 is added to ‘silent voting’ Jana Sena may reap rich dividends in 2019.
Another factor which may work in favour of Jana Sena is the vote bank of Praja Rajyam, a party floated by Pawan Kalyan’s elder brother K Chiranjeevi and later merged with Congress. Praja Rajyam had logged 25% vote share in coastal Andhra Pradesh in 2009.
Jana Sena leader Boliesetty Satyanarayana said Pawan Kalyan wanted to bring in clean politics. “He has a clear idea on issues plaguing the society. He has cemented his position on AP’s political arena through his fights and movements against the state government. When it comes to north coastal Andhra Pradesh, his work on issues like Uddanam kidney issues, bauxite mining in Vizag agency, Vamsadhara project evacuees, port pollution in Vizag city, VIMS privatisation, allocating land to IT companies at throwaway prices despite not creating any employment, controversial land pooling in Vizag suburbs, etc. have created a unique image for him,” said Satyanarayana.
Thota Ramaswamy, a Kapu leader from East Godavari district, said despite chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu creating a quota for the community or Jaganmohan Reddy’s promises, the Kapus may vote for Pawan Kalyan.
A section of people, however, has been exercising a little caution before embracing Jana Sena, considering their earlier experiences with Praja Rajyam.
In 2014, Janasena founder Pawan Kalyan had campaigned aggressively for TDP and is said to have played a crucial role in the party coming to power.
Five years later, political equations have changed with Jana Sena entering the electoral fray for the first time, making it a three-way contest.
Will Pawan Kalyn’s impact would be limited to merely upsetting the TDP and YSRC applecart? Or will the Jana Sena leader become the kingmaker?
For example, in 2014, 46 MLAs won by a majority of less than 5,000 votes in a bipolar contest between TDP and YSRC. Even if Jana Sena logs 10,000 votes in key constituencies, it would turn the tables around.
Jana Sena is expected to capitalise on anti-incumbency as well as garnering ‘silent voters’. Besides enjoying the support of the dominant Kapu community, the youth may rally behind Pawan Kalyan. If the vote bank which worked for TDP in 2014 is added to ‘silent voting’ Jana Sena may reap rich dividends in 2019.
Another factor which may work in favour of Jana Sena is the vote bank of Praja Rajyam, a party floated by Pawan Kalyan’s elder brother K Chiranjeevi and later merged with Congress. Praja Rajyam had logged 25% vote share in coastal Andhra Pradesh in 2009.
Jana Sena leader Boliesetty Satyanarayana said Pawan Kalyan wanted to bring in clean politics. “He has a clear idea on issues plaguing the society. He has cemented his position on AP’s political arena through his fights and movements against the state government. When it comes to north coastal Andhra Pradesh, his work on issues like Uddanam kidney issues, bauxite mining in Vizag agency, Vamsadhara project evacuees, port pollution in Vizag city, VIMS privatisation, allocating land to IT companies at throwaway prices despite not creating any employment, controversial land pooling in Vizag suburbs, etc. have created a unique image for him,” said Satyanarayana.
Thota Ramaswamy, a Kapu leader from East Godavari district, said despite chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu creating a quota for the community or Jaganmohan Reddy’s promises, the Kapus may vote for Pawan Kalyan.
A section of people, however, has been exercising a little caution before embracing Jana Sena, considering their earlier experiences with Praja Rajyam.
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