Ex-cricketer, TDP leader among those who join JSP

Pawan says a new political era will begin in 2019, reiterates resolve to allot ticket to locals

Former cricketer Y. Venugopala Rao and TDP leader Kona Tata Rao with Pawan Kalyan after joining the JSP, in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.

With Pawan Kalyan asserting that the Jana Sena Party (JSP) would contest all the seats in the elections and nominate only locals, a host of leaders and new entrants, including former Indian cricketer Y. Venugopala Rao and senior TDP leader Kona Tata Rao, joined the party on Friday.

The others who joined the JSP were Konathala Sitaram, a businessman from Anakapalle; Mandava Ravi Kumar of Balaji Schools; and Ramachandra Rao from West Godavari district.

They came with a large number of their supporters to the luxury beach resort at Rushikonda near here where Mr. Pawan Kalyan had been staying for the past few days, and joined the party.

Welcoming them into the JSP, Mr. Pawan Kalyan exuded confidence that a new political era would begin in 2019. “I would stand firmly by the people, fighting for their cause until my last breath. North Andhra, from where I had begun my acting career, will be the starting point for politics too,” he said.

“My effort is to resolve the problems being faced by people,” he said, and added, “I had begun from Uddanam.”

‘Support spontaneous’

Claiming that the support to the JSP was spontaneous, he said the TDP and the YSRCP were spending money to bring people.

Reiterating that north Andhra was not backward, but was pushed into backwardness, he said, “The JPS understands its language, dialect, arts, and soul.”

Mr. Pawan Kalyan said the JPS would give the pride of place for local leaders who understood the region well.

The actor-turned-politician dwelt at length on his patience, recalling that he had to wait for a hit (film) for 12 years. Though Mr. Pawan Kalyan had decided to enter politics in 2003, he did not contest in 2009 with a view to understanding the issues.

Mr. Pawan Kalyan said he had extended value-based support to the TDP and the BJP in 2014 and did not bargain for position or power.

Training for cadre

Training for party cadre will begin from July 2, and 3,000 have been selected from each district for the purpose.

The JSP leader called upon the cadre to respect the leaders joining them.