Pawan sets eyes on 2019 polls

Keeps Jana Sena alive by holding programmes across AP

Hyderabad: Jana Sena Party chief and actor Pawan Kalyan is poised to take a plunge into elections in 2019 with a greater role for youth and crusade against corruption as the twin-poll planks. Pawan Kalyan has been credited as a kingmaker as he played a key role in the TDP-BJP alliance coming to power in the state and at the Centre.

According to sources close to the Jana Sena leader, Pawan Kalyan is planning to test waters in the Rayalaseema region by leading a massive rally at Anantapur on November 10. The sources said he is keen to infuse young blood in politics as an alternative to the present-day politics mired in stinking corruption and revolving around family rule. Leaders close to Pawan are already said to be scouting for youth leaders with winning prospects in the coming elections.

A close confidant of Pawan Kalyan told The Hans India that the star’s shooting schedule will come to an end by 2017. Till then, he will get in touch with people at the grassroots level by holding public interactions like the ones recently held in Kakinada on Kapu reservations and anti-food park campaign at Thundurru.

However, the sources told this newspaper that no decision will be taken till the last hour on whether Jana Sena would go it alone or find partners to face the election. As part of the strategy, Pawan is maintaining a live contract with people and expanding the party base as part of preparing his party to fight the next elections. He is bent on fielding candidates on behalf of the Jana Sena party with a corruption-free image.

Pawan Kalyan is reportedly planning to launch membership drive with admission of youth at the top of the agenda in all the assembly constituencies. The actor-turned leader constituted a team at his office in Hyderabad while responding on people’s problems through social media from time to time.

People from different sections are looking up to the JSP chief seeking redressal of their problems with his intervention. With each passing day, the stream of visitors thronging his office is gradually on the rise. So, he felt that it is a clear indication that people desperately wanted his leadership in the next elections, asserts a close of Pawan.

During his stint in Praja Rajyam and subsequently upon floating Jana Sena, he identified the Congress as a main rival. Pawan targeted Congress for his alleged murky role in a slew of notorious scandals and scams. Therefore, he gave a call to drive away the Congress from the country. Soon after floating the Jana Sena, he did not jump into electoral politics but threw the party’s weight behind the TDP-BJP combine.

He campaigned on behalf of the party nominees. After the TDP came to power, Pawan played a constructive role on crucial issues faced by people such as acquisition of lands in the capital by `coercion’ by maintaining harmony with the ruling alliance partner in the state.

Recently, he urged Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to do justice to the people affected by the Mega Aqua Food Park coming up at Tundurru in West Godavari district. He suggested for shifting of the park to a safer place away from human habitats and water bodies.

The actor intervened on issues of special status to Andhra Pradesh and implementation of assurances doled out by the centre at the time of bifurcation. As part of his struggle to get these implemented, he declared that he would soon be touring districts.

As if changing the tact, he seems readying himself for a showdown with the government after the Tirupati and Kakinada meetings. As part of the showdown, a huge public meeting will be addressed by Jana Sena at Anantapur on November 10. It appears as though Pawan Kalyan would not hesitate to lock horns with the TDP government if it were to resort to anti-people’s policies.

By TR Vinay Kumar