HYDERABAD: The two basic principles for the electoral alliance between the Telugu Desam and Jana Sena that will not change in any circumstances are no equal status to the partners and limiting the minor partner Jana Sena to mostly to four coastal districts, according to sources privy to the earlier talks between the two party chiefs N. Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan.
Though both the parties dismiss it as too early to talk on the number of seats each party will be contesting and the constituencies to be shared between the two, sources said Jana Sena will be given around 30 Assembly and two Lok Sabha seats, mostly Anakapalle and Kakinada.
Party sources said Konatala Ramakrishna has been in active consideration for Anakapalle and he is yet to confirm his willingness to get into active politics. The former minister and MP has been keeping himself aloof from active politics for some time. Jana Sena may pitch for Machilipatnam Lok Sabha in the event of any changes in Anakapalle and it is sure to take Kakinada segment which is predominantly a Kapu strong bastion.
A few seats in North Coastal, particularly in Visakhapatnam, and a few more in Chittoor and Kadapa will go for Jana Sena, sources said.
Though the alliance was on cards, Pawan Kalyan's announcement outside Rajamahendravaram central prison where he had "mulakhat" with Chandrababu Naidu came as a surprise. The film actor-cum-politician is said to have shared with his partymen that he felt emotional and suffocated seeing Naidu in such a state and took a spontaneous decision to announce alliance. Both the leaders reportedly discussed the increasing suppression by the YSRC government and the need to build a formidable alliance.
Jana Sena leaders were elated over their leader taking charge at the need of hour and initiating the formalisation of alliance. This was in continuation of sincere and wholehearted support Pawan Kalyan extended on the day of arrest. After he was denied landing at Vijayawada airport, the Jana Sena chief went by road to Vijayawada braving obstacles created by police.
"These two strategic moves will be of advantage to Pawan Kalyan," said a party leader adding that his daredevil act on National Highway won the hearts of Telugu Desam cadre also and it was essential for transfer of vote between the partners.
Sources also said Naidu during his previous meeting with Pawan Kalyan admitted to have committed a mistake of distancing from Jana Sena in 2019 elections. Maintaining that several leaders might have given different inputs, Naidu was of the view that as a leader it was his mistake (to not have alliance) and that he would own it up. Both leaders reportedly decided to be genuine in selecting seats and sincere in ensuring vote transfer.
The electoral partners, however, will have a tough time responding to YSRC criticism of opportunistic politics and the trolling in social media which is flooded with videos of 2019 poll campaign in which both Pawan Kalyan and TD national general-secretary Nara Lokesh were abusing each other.
