Differences and tensions between the cadres of the TDP and Jana Sena Party appear to be coming to the fore in Andhra Pradesh ahead of the local body elections, with Tadepalligudem Jana Sena MLA Bolisetti Srinivas openly alleging that his party’s cadre are being sidelined by TDP leaders.
Addressing Jana Sena workers at a meeting on Friday, the MLA said TDP leaders were putting pressure on his party’s cadre despite the respect being extended to them by Jana Sena leaders.
Bolisetti said that while Jana Sena leaders respected their counterparts in the TDP, the latter were allegedly “suppressing” or sidelining Jana Sainiks at the grassroots level.
He also said Jana Sena chief and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan was aware of the issue. According to the MLA, Pawan Kalyan would raise the matter with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at a coordination committee meeting.
Bolisetti has been making a series of outspoken comments in recent days amid what is being described as pressure from TDP leaders in his constituency.
He had recently said that Jana Sena could contest up to 60 Assembly seats in the next elections, signalling the party’s desire for a larger share of seats compared with its limited representation in the 2024 elections.
The MLA also reacted strongly to demands from Jana Sena leaders seeking party tickets for the upcoming local body elections.
He reportedly told aspirants that merely because he recommended someone, it did not mean they would necessarily get a ticket.
Bolisetti also made it clear that he did not have the authority to guarantee tickets to aspirants. He said he would speak only about the ground reality and would not be intimidated by anyone.
“I will speak the truth. I have no problem with whoever the person may be, and I am not afraid of anyone,” he said.
