Telugu Desam Party National President N Chandrababu Naidu with Jana Sena Party President Pawan Kalyan.
Credit: PTI Photo
Hyderabad: After several rounds of discussions and closed-door meetings, it has now emerged that Jana Sena will contest in 24 assembly and three Lok Sabha seats and TDP will contest in the remaining seats in Andhra Pradesh.
Though there have been feelers over a year about possible alliance between Jana Sena and TDP, it was only last September after N Chandrababu Naidu was arrested by APCID in a suspected scam probe, when Pawan Kalyan announced that both the parties will go to polls together in an alliance.
On Saturday, TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena supremo Pawan Kalyan announced the first list of candidates with 94 names of TDP who will contest in the upcoming polls.
Usually, TDP releases a list after the announcement of the poll schedule. Out of the 24 seats allotted to Jana Sena, Pawan Kalyan announced names for five segments. The announcement of the first list of TDP-Jana Sena combine came amid ongoing talks with BJP to join the alliance.
Both the leaders on Saturday acknowledged that talks are on with BJP and if the national party comes on board, seats would be adjusted accordingly. Sources said as BJP is more keen on Lok Sabha seats, names for the parliament segments were not announced.
For the first time, both TDP and Jana Sena unveiled a joint logo as part of their branding effort. Names of Naidu and his son Nara Lokesh found mention in the first list. While Naidu will contest from his traditional seat of Kuppam, Lokesh will again try his luck from Mangalagiri, from where he had lost in 2019 polls.
After releasing the list Naidu said that social justice is given highest priority in the selection of candidates. Apart from providing a better opportunity for women, those who are amidst the people are given a chance to boldly face the elections, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Naidu said, “Keeping the interests of the state in mind, both TDP and the Jana Sena have come together to jointly contest the elections. The alliance is not in the interest of the parties but for the betterment of five crore people of the state,” Naidu said.
Terming it as a historic occasion, he said the state has suffered a lot with bifurcation and that the loss increased after Y S Jagan has become the Chief Minister.
This is not a personal loss either for him or for Pawan Kalyan but for the five crore people of the state as the Andhra Pradesh brand was hit hard by this YSRCP Government, Naidu remarked.
Of the 94 TDP candidates, 23 are first-timers and an opportunity has been provided for IAS officer, doctors and graduates.
“Instead of taking more seats, we felt it is better to take a limited number of seats to safeguard the interest of the state. Our sole aim is to bring the state back on track,” Pawan Kalyan said.
Maintaining that the Jana Sena has taken the decision with the sole responsibility to save the state from this atrocious rule, the Jana Sena chief said that the party will contest three Lok Sabha seats.
However, in at least 10 assembly segments both TDP and Jana Sena ticket aspirants hit the roads in protest against the first list.
The list consists of 28 candidates with post-graduate degrees, 50 candidates with graduate degrees, 3 doctors, 2 PhD holders, and one IAS Officer.
TDP insiders said that the list has been prepared after considering the opinion of more than 1.3 cr people.