TDP-Jana Sena announces first list of candidates

TDP-Jana Sena announces first list of candidates. TDP Supremo N Chandrababu Naidu and Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan made a significant announcement on Saturday, unveiling their first joint list of 118 candidates for the upcoming Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh.

However, the announcement came with a twist that left many Jana Sena Party leaders and cadres disappointed. Pawan Kalyan revealed that his party would contest only 24 assembly seats and three Lok Sabha seats, a move that surprised many.

During a joint press conference at his residence in Undavalli, TDP chief Naidu unveiled the first list of 94 candidates, while Jana Sena announced the names of 5 candidates. Interestingly, Pawan Kalyan did not disclose from which constituency he would be contesting.

Pawan Kalyan explained that the decision to limit JSP's participation was strategic. He emphasized the importance of preventing a vote division against the current government and aimed for a high success rate. He highlighted that by contesting three Lok Sabha seats, JSP is indirectly contesting around 40 seats. He also mentioned that the alliance's strength was bolstered by the BJP's inclusion, which led to a reduction in their seat count.

In the first list of candidates, notable names include Chandrababu Naidu contesting from Kuppam, Nara Lokesh from Mangalagiri, K Atchananaidu from Tekkali, N Balakrishna from Hindupur, and JSP's political affairs committee chairman Nadendla Manohar from Tenali.

The TDP's list showcases a significant departure from traditional tactics, with 23 new faces among the 94 candidates. Naidu highlighted that the list comprises 28 postgraduates, 50 undergraduates, 3 doctors, 2 Ph.D. holders, and 1 IAS Officer. In a lighter vein, he remarked about the YSRC list containing red sander smugglers.

The selection of candidates was a result of feedback from over 1 crore 3 lakh 33 thousand people. Naidu asserted, "TDP-JSP is prepared for the election battle. This alliance is for the state’s future and the brighter future of Andhra Pradesh."

While the seat allocation was done with the BJP in mind, in case the party decides to join the alliance, the two leaders affirmed their readiness for the elections, emphasizing the alliance's commitment to Andhra Pradesh's future.