AP Polls: Pawan Kalyan meets Chandrababu to discuss seat sharing between TDP, Janasena
Insiders said clarity on seat sharing would be announced before February 20
By Sri Lakshmi Muttevi Published on 5 Feb 2024 5:09 AM GMT
Amaravati: Jana Sena president Pawan Kalyan met TDP president Chandrababu Naidu in Undavalli to discuss seat sharing and selection of candidates.
According to the party sources, the Janasena party wanted to contest majorly in the erstwhile Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East, and West Godavari districts.
A week ago, the Janasena party announced that they would field candidates in Razole and Rajanagaram Assembly constituencies for Andhra Pradesh polls. Pawan Kalyan had announced without consulting the TDP.
Earlier, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu had announced candidates for Mandapeta and Araku Assembly constituencies during ‘Raa Kadali Ra’ programme in North Andhra districts without considering its alliance with the Jana Sena. Soon after Naidu’s announcement, cadres from Jana Sena at Mandapeta and Araku expressed their dissatisfaction with the TDP’s decision.
Sources said Pawan Kalyan is expecting a sizable number of seats. Insiders said clarity on seat sharing would be announced before February 20.
"TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu is also holding discussions with the MLAs on the seat sharing. The shifting and joining of leaders in the party is continuing. Pawan Kalyan is going to New Delhi on February 10 to stitch alliance with BJP," said a source from TDP.
Does TDP have aspiring candidates for Lok Sabha polls?
TDP has suffered a double blow ahead of Lok Sabha elections after Jayadev Galla, who was elected twice as MP, quit politics, and former Vijayawada MP Kesineni Nani resigned and joined YSR Congress.
In the 2019 elections, TDP won three Lok Sabha seats, while YSRCP won 22. Currently, TDP has only one MP. Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu had won from Srikakulam.
Andhra Pradesh has 25 Lok Sabha seats. Both TDP and Janasena are holding talks on seat sharing. If BJP joins the alliance with TDP and Janasena then the Andhra parties will have to leave some constituencies for the saffron party. BJP is eying more seats in Andhra. This would directly have an impact on TDP.
Further, it is pertinent to note that Pawan Kalyan is eyeing a good number of seats in the Lok Sabha, to take on Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
