In Vijayawada, the Jana Sena Party (JSP) announced candidates for 18 Assembly segments in Andhra Pradesh. However, dissent grew among its cadres who are now considering quitting the party or not supporting the candidate in the TDP-BJP-JSP alliance.
Vijayawada West is one of the seats that the JSP sacrificed for its alliance partner, the BJP. Pothina Venkata Mahesh, who was active in the area for the last five years, was initially considered for a ticket. But when BJP MP Sujana Chowdary entered the picture, Mahesh’s chances started to fade. There are speculations that Chowdary might be allotted the Vijayawada West Assembly seat, leading to Mahesh’s followers going on a hunger strike demanding a ticket for him.
In Kakinada, former city Mayor Saroja resigned from the JSP as the state secretary, citing “gross injustice being done to the backward classes in the allocation of party tickets.” She criticized the party for not giving priority to BCs, women, and youth in ticket distribution and decided to work against Jana Sena candidates in Kakinada rural and other constituencies.
In Giddalur of Prakasam district, Amanchi Swamulu, who was hoping for a ticket from the JSP, decided to contest as an independent candidate after not receiving a ticket or meeting with party founder Pawan Kalyan. Swamulu held a meeting with his cadre and Kapu Sangam leaders to finalize his decision to run independently.
Former TDP MLA Sugunamma expressed displeasure over the allocation of the Tirupati seat to the JSP. She requested Chandrababu Naidu to reconsider his decision, questioning the party’s surveys and criticizing the allocation of seats to those who defected to the TDP or JSP.
