Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan flanked by TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh and Hindupur MLA & actor Nandamuri Balakrishna outside Rajamahendravaram central prison on Thursday.
Credit: Special Arrangement
Throwing the ball in BJP’s court, actor-politician Pawan Kalyan on Thursday formalised his party Jana Sena’s electoral alliance with the TDP.
Over the last few years Pawan Kalyan has been advocating for a ‘grand alliance’ of sorts with TDP, BJP and Jana Sena joining forces like in the 2014 polls, to face the ruling YSRCP in upcoming polls in 2024. However, the BJP has been cold feet with regards to his proposal.
In a recent development, Pawan Kalyan on Thursday announced an electoral alliance with the TDP without waiting for BJP’s response to his proposal for a 'joint fight’.
This move comes after Kalyan's meeting with TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu who is currently lodged in Rajamahendravaram central prison.
He remains hopeful that the BJP will join the TDP and Jana Sena alliance ahead of the 2024 polls.
“This mulaqat in Rajamahendravaram is very crucial and important for the future of Andhra Pradesh and its politics. Andhra Pradesh can't afford YSRCP anymore. Until now I have been speaking about the need for a joint fight to face YSRCP. But today after meeting Naidu I have firmly decided to go to the polls in 2024 along with TDP in an electoral alliance. If this (arrest) can happen for a person of stature like Naidu anything can happen to anyone in Andhra Pradesh. His arrest is unlawful,” said Pawan Klayan flanked by TDP scion and Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh and Hindupur MLA and actor Nandamuri Balakrishna.
“I am a part of NDA and believe that the BJP will also join the electoral alliance of TDP and Jana Sena,” Pawan Klayan added.
Pawan Kalyan along with Lokesh and Balakrishna had met Naidu in Rajamahendravaram central prison in the 'mulaqat' meeting that lasted around 40 minutes and discussed about the future course of action.
A joint action committee will soon be formed for coordination between the new found allies.
“The joint action committee will also discuss the joint action plan. Jagan is the sole reason and responsible for such a situation to arise wherein we are forced to join hands. What is going on in Andhra Pradesh is nothing but anarchic rule. If we don’t put up a joint fight now, this anarchic rule will continue for decades. We need to put a stop to this. I never had any personal differences with Naidu. I only differed with him in the past on some policy related issues,” said Pawan Kalyan.
Jana Sena supremo’s attempts to meet Naidu to stand in solidarity with him after his arrest turned futile as police stopped him from entering Andhra Pradesh at the Telangana state border citing law and order issues late Saturday night.
The ruling YSRCP, however, was not surprised with Pawan Kalyan’s announcement on Thursday.
“There is nothing new in this announcement. They have been working since sometime in secrecy. They have now removed their masks. Our leader chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy always said we will fight it alone,” former minister and Vjayawada west MLA, Vellampalli Srinivas told Deccan Herald.
Though both Jana Sena and BJP were allies, they had never taken up joint programmes in the last few years. While BJP had planned its protests against the ruling dispensation, Jana Sena had its own programmes. Notably, Pawan Kalyan was invited to participate in the NDA meeting held on July 18.