Jana Sena Party Political Affairs Committee chairman and Andhra Pradesh Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar’s recent comments on the party’s strength ahead of the local body elections continue to trigger reactions within sections of the Kapu community.
Senior Kapu leader Dasari Ramu came down heavily on Manohar over his reported remarks about the party’s organisational strength, questioning how a senior leader could describe Jana Sena as lacking strength.
Ramu criticised Manohar for reportedly saying that putting up a few banners and moving around in cars could not be considered evidence of a strong political organisation.
He also questioned Manohar’s remarks in the context of the forthcoming local body elections, asking how many tickets would ultimately be allotted to Jana Sena leaders and workers.
Ramu said that, as PAC chairman, Manohar should not make statements suggesting that Jana Sena lacks strength. Instead, he said, Manohar should clarify the party’s position on seat allocation and political opportunities for its cadre.
He asked whether Manohar’s remarks amounted to a warning to party leaders and workers not to seek tickets in the local body elections.
Ramu said he had never sought a nominated post for himself, but argued that there were legitimate questions over whether party workers who had supported Jana Sena for years were receiving adequate political opportunities.
Referring to earlier statements by Pawan Kalyan, Ramu said the Jana Sena chief had previously spoken about the party receiving 30 per cent of seats and 30 per cent of nominated posts. He alleged that Manohar’s latest remarks were inconsistent with that earlier position.
Ramu also criticised what he described as Manohar’s changing statements, alleging that the PAC chairman was taking different positions at different times.
Drawing parallels with political developments in Karnataka and Telangana, Ramu referred to H D Kumaraswamy’s alliances in Karnataka and K Chandrashekar Rao’s alliances with other parties in Telangana, suggesting that Pawan Kalyan should also pursue a strategy that protects and strengthens Jana Sena’s political interests.
Ramu said political parties should ensure that they secure what they are entitled to within an alliance, arguing that failure to do so would give the other side an advantage without securing corresponding benefits.
He further alleged that grassroots leaders and workers who had worked for Jana Sena over the years were not receiving adequate opportunities under the present government.
Ramu also raised questions about representation within the party. He claimed that Jana Sena did not have enough prominent state-level leaders from BC, SC and minority communities, and alleged that there was no strong Kapu leader capable of directly conveying the community’s concerns to Pawan Kalyan.
He also pointed out that, of the 21 Assembly seats contested by Jana Sena in the 2024 elections, several candidates had come from the TDP. Ramu said Pawan Kalyan, Nadendla Manohar and Lingamaneni Ramesh should explain how such an arrangement came about.
Recalling the previous government’s tenure, Ramu said several Jana Sena workers had fought for the party during local body elections despite difficult circumstances. Some had contested elections on the party’s behalf and won, he said.
He questioned what political recognition or opportunities had subsequently been provided to those leaders and workers.
