Ideology
The main goal of Jana Sena Party is to question any type of corruption in government functioning and organizations and to protect basic rights of people. Jana Sena follows 7 basic ideals promoted as 'Ideals of Jana Sena' ('Jana Sena Sidhanthalu' in Telugu):
- Social consciousness without caste
- Politics without religious discrimination
- Reverence for linguistic diversity
- Protection of our traditions and culture
- Nationalism without neglecting regional aspirations
- Relentless fight against corruption
- Progress that preserves the environment
However, there has been confusion around JSP's political philosophy. Despite likening himself to Che Guevara, having communist ideologies, and choosing a red star as his party’s symbol, Kalyan supported BJP in the 2014 elections. However, over the years, he lashed out at the BJP central government for not granting Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh, multiple times.[9] Again, Jana Sena Party officially entered into an alliance with BJP in January 2020.[10]
Elections
2014 elections
Jana Sena supported BJP and TDP in the 2014 general and assembly elections. Kalyan campaigned in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka addressing the public along with Narendra Modi and N. Chandrababu Naidu, who later won the elections and became Prime Minister of India and Chief Minister of AP, respectively. He opposed Congress rule stating the slogan, Congress Hatao Desh Bachao. His rallies drew what the Deccan-Journal called "huge crowds" in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Pawan Kalyan was invited to Parliament Central Hall to attend NDA meeting and attended the swearing-in ceremony of Naidu.
Post 2014 elections
It was announced in November 2016 that the first office of the Jana Sena Party (JSP) would be set up at Anantapur in the following year and it would contest the 2019 general election.[11] Pawan Kalyan is the one who exposed Uddanam kidney issue in Srikakulam district. He requested doctors from Harvard University to take part in a research on kidney issue in this region. He later conducted meeting in Visakhapatnam with Harvard doctors and local scientists who are working on the kidney problems in Uddanam. He met Chandrababu Naidu to explain about situation in Uddanam with his team and as a result the government has set up dialysis center in the region.
On 21 February 2017, Kalyan announced that he would launch a website on 14 March to mark the party's anniversary and invite recommendations for the party manifesto in the 2019 general election.[12]
2019 elections
On 2 May 2018, the JSP announced that it would contest all 175 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh during the 2019 assembly election.[13] JSP formed a bloc with leftist parties (Communist Party of India and Communist Party of India (Marxist)) and Bahujan Samaj Party[14][15] in Andhra Pradesh.
JSP chief Pawan Kalyan contested two seats in the election, Gajuwaka[16] and Bhimavaram.[17] He failed to win either seat. Rapaka Vara Prasada Rao was elected from Razole Assembly constituency. JSP managed to get around 6% vote share in Andhra Pradesh.
Manifesto: Pawan Kalyan released the party's 2019 election manifesto on fifth formation day of JSP at Rajahmundry.[18] The party declared war on unemployment and corruption, and wished to ensure the safety of women. Other goals included:
- Irrigation support fund of ₹8,000 per acre to every farmer's family[19]
- Dokka Seethamma canteen, which provides free food for students
- 5,000 pension for small marginal tenant-farmers above 60 years of age and free solar pump-sets for all farmers
- Arts and science college at every mandal level
- 10 lakh (one million rupees) free health insurance, and mobile diagnostic centers in all mandals
- 10,000 financial support at 25 paisa interest to small businesses
- Implementation of Sachar Committee recommendations
- Free education from LKG to PG
- Free liquid petroleum gas cylinders for housewives
- Financial support for fishermen during the non-fishing season
- High court bench in Rayalaseema[20]
- Chief minister (CM) to be brought under LokAyukta
- 33% reservations for women in the state legislature and establishment of Mahila banks in all districts
- Ten lakh (one million) jobs every year[21][22]
Post 2019 Elections and BJP alliance
Jana Sena announced that tying up with Bharatiya Janata Party in Andhra Pradesh, this decision came after Chief minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy's intention to decentralise the capital, instead of developing Amaravati.[23][24][25]
2023 Varahi Yatra
In 2023, Janasena President Pawan Kalyan undertook a tour in the state on a vehicle named Varahi aimed at highlighting the failures of the Jagan Mohan Reddy government. The vehicle used for the trip is a camper van having facilities like bed, cooking equipment, wash room etc.[26] The tour also includes the Janavani programme where the party receives petitions from people seeking redressal of their grievances. Later, the grievances will be taken to the notice of the authorities concerned to get them redressed.[7]
The first phase of yatra started with darshan at Annavaram Satyanarayana Swamy temple on 14 June and was drawn to a close at Bhimavaram on June 30.[4] Pawan Kalyan toured Prathipadu, Pithapuram, Kakinada urban and rural, Mummidivaram, Amalapuram, P. Gannavaram, Narasapuram, Razole, Palakollu and Bhimavaram constituencies in the first phase.[4] The second phase of the Varahi Yatra began with a public meeting in Eluru town on July 9.[6]
Telangana Assembly Election 2023: Alliance formed with BJP
The Jana Sena Party, in an electoral partnership with the BJP, contested eight constituencies, experiencing defeats in all, with seven out of eight candidates losing their deposits.[27][28] [29]
2024 Elections
On 14 September 2023, Pawan Kalyan announced via a press conference, that the Jana Sena and TDP would jointly fight the 2024 Andhra Pradesh legislative elections.[30][31] In March 2024, TDP rejoined the NDA for Legislative elections and 2024 General Elections, effectively making it a tri-party alliance in Andhra Pradesh.[32][33][34]
Protests
Pawan Kalyan opposed BJP-led central government for not granting Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh. He called Special Package as just an eye wash.[35] He later attended a huge public gathering Seemandhrula Atma Gaurava Sabha in Kakinada on 9 Sep 2016 demanding Special Category Status.[36] He slammed Narendra Modi, Venkaiah Naidu, Arun Jaitley and urged AP MPs to learn Hindi to demand Special Category Status in Parliament.[36]
On the fourth formation day of JSP was conducted at Acharya Nagarjuna University grounds on March 14, 2018. Kalyan criticized both central and state governments in this meeting. He mainly targeted Arun Jaitley, N. Chandrababu Naidu and Nara Lokesh for their poor governance and corruption. He said "I supported the TDP and the BJP parties during the general elections held in 2014 with a hope that they would rebuild the state which had no Capital and no financial resources. But the state government has belied my hopes and the aspirations of crores of people. Why should I support these parties which have betrayed the people?" He questioned Chandrababu Naidu about his son's corruption. He said "Don't you know about your son Lokesh's corruption? Are you letting him do it despite your knowledge? if so, I'm leaving it to your wisdom. You have satisfied no one. You have lost the faith of people including mine."
He went on one-day hunger strike for proper caring of patients in Uddanam in 2018. Kalyan opposed the central government's move to privatize the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI),[37][38] and the TDP government's decision on land pooling.[39] He led a protest march to commemorate farmers who committed suicide or migrated from the drought-prone regions of Rayalaseema,[40] and later organized a march on the historical Dowleswaram Barrage, Rajahmundry, demanding political accountability.[41] The JSP Chief exposed the alleged unchecked mining in the reserve forest area at Vanthada Village of Prathipadu, East Godavari district.[42] The prime objective of Jana Sena Party has been to ensure equal power to all social groups of people.[43]
Leadership
Political Affairs Committee
| Portrait
|
Name
(Year of Birth)
|
Tenure
|
Designation
|
Ref.
|
| Assumed office
|
Left office
|
Time in office
|
|
Pawan Kalyan
(1968)
|
14 September 2014
|
Incumbent
|
9 years, 193 days
|
President
|
|
|
Nadendla Manohar
(1964)
|
12 October 2018
|
Incumbent
|
5 years, 165 days
|
Chairman
|
[44]
|
Others
- Vice-President: Bongunoori Mahender Reddy
- Telangana Incharge: Nemuri Shankar Goud
- Political Advisor: P. Ramamohan Rao (ex-TN Chief Secretary)
- Political Secretary to President: P. Hari Prasad
- Official Representatives: Bolisetti Satya, Kandula Durgesh (ex-MLC), T Shivashankar
- Party Affairs Committee Chairman: Sekhar Puli
- IT Center: Ram Talluri
- Official Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. K. Sarat Kumar
Other leaders include Naga Babu, Settibathula Rajababu, Sandeep Panchakarla, Siva Rama Krishna Vaka, Muttamsetti Krishna Rao, Palavalsa Yesaswini, Jivaji Rekha, Arham Khan, Pasupuleti Hari Prasad, Chennareddy Manukranth, Sujatha Panda, Pantham Nanaji, Pothina Mahesh, State official Spokesperson Siva Parvathi and Shaik Riyaz.
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