Pawan Kalyan all set to form front as alternative to TDP, YSR Cong
Fledgling Jana Sena Party led by popular Telugu actor Pawan Kalyan is all set to join hands with the Communist parties – CPI and CPI (M) - to form a political front as an alternative to the ruling Telugu Desam Party and main opposition YSR Congress party in Andhra Pradesh in the forthcoming elections.
Pawan held a series of meetings with the leaders of the Left parties on Thursday and Friday in Hyderabad and they have come to an understanding on working together with a common agenda in the next elections. “It was decided that the Jana Sena, the CPI and the CPI (M) join hands and fight together with a common action plan,” Jana Sena political affairs committee convenor Madasu Gangadharam said.
Though there was no final decision on forming a political front at the meeting, the three parties have decided to meet again in Vijayawada shortly to work out a formula. It was agreed to hold a state-wide convention where the formation of Jana Sena-Left front could be announced, a leader familiar with the development said.
“We are going to meet Pawan again in another week or two to decide how we shall go about with our future course of action. For quite some time, the Left parties have been fighting with Pawan on people’s issues like special category status to AP, forcible acquisition of land for the capital city Amaravati, Visakhapatnam Railway Zone etc. The response from the people has been tremendous,” former MP and CPI (M) state secretary P Madhu said.
Pawan, who had campaigned for the TDP-BJP combine in 2014 elections, parted ways with both the parties and has been touring different parts of the state extensively for the last three months. So far, he covered the north coastal districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam in the name of “Praja Porata Yatra” (Tour to fight for people) and addressed impressive rallies everywhere. He is presently touring West Godavari district, dominated by Kapu community to which he belongs.
While the TDP has been alleging that Pawan is being used as pawn by the BJP to run down the Chandrababu Naidu government, the actor-turned-politician has been moving along with the Left parties. “The TDP has been spreading canards against Pawan saying that he was dancing to the tunes of the BJP. It is a matter of common sense that the Communist parties would never work together with any leader having connections with the BJP. Naidu was trying to mislead the people for his political gains,” CPI state secretary K Ramakrishna said.
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