Capping months of speculation on his political course post retirement, former CBI Joint Director V.V. Lakshminarayana joined the Jana Sena Party (JSP) in the presence of its president Pawan Kalyan here on Sunday.
Former Vice-Chancellor of Sri Krishnadevaraya University K. Rajagopal too joined the JSP along with Mr. Lakshminarayana.
Addressing the media later, Mr. Lakshminarayana said he was attracted by Mr. Pawan Kalyan’s “zero-budget politics” and the concern he showed for the well-being of the masses, particularly for the upbringing of youth and women empowerment.
Positive change
Mr. Lakshminarayana said he was fortunate to be invited into the JSP, which dispelled the notion that there was no politics without money. Mr. Pawan Kalyan had been striving to usher in a positive change in the people’s lives through good governance, and the party manifesto was an excellent piece of work that addressed the issues related to every section of society and individual, Mr. Lakshminarayana observed. The former CBI official said he had wanted to enter politics long ago, but family compulsions prevented him from taking the plunge. “Once I made up his mind to serve the people and looked around for a proper platform, I found the JSP as the best party,” he stated, and praised Mr. Pawan Kalyan as a leader who was not only popular but also intelligent and courageous. “I have become a ‘Jana Sainik’ like you, let us move forward together and show to the world what JSP is,” he exhorted the cadres with a clenched fist. In his brief message, Mr. Pawan Kalyan said he wanted Mr. Lakshminarayana to contest for the Lok Sabha from the Rayalaseema region. However, no decision was taken as the JSP was engaged in discussions on seat-sharing with its allies – the Bahujan Samaj Party and the CPI and the CPI(M). During his stint in the CBI, Mr. Lakshminarayana had investigated some high-profile corruption cases, including those involving YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.