The TDP and Jana Sena have recently announced their alliance for the upcoming 2024 elections, but tensions are rising over the seat-sharing process, particularly in the Rayalaseema region. This region poses a significant challenge for the alliance due to the TDP’s historical stronghold there, as it has been a prominent political force for four decades, while the Jana Sena is a relatively new party, only having contested elections in 2019.
The Jana Sena’s desire to contest from several Rayalaseema constituencies, including Tirupati, Chittoor, Srikalahasti, Alur, Allagadda, Anantapur, Puttaparthi, Rajampet, and Railway Kodur, is causing concerns among TDP leaders. These constituencies have been the focus of TDP’s ground-level efforts over the past five years, making them crucial for the party’s prospects.
With TDP leader N. Chandrababu Naidu currently in jail, Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan and TDP scion N. Lokesh have devised a joint action plan and are preparing to campaign together. The absence of Naidu, who would have likely influenced seat allocation differently, raises speculation that Pawan Kalyan might push for a more favorable distribution of constituencies.
Meanwhile, TDP members are worried about how many seats they may have to concede in the twin Godavari districts and North Andhra due to the Jana Sena’s increasing demands in Rayalaseema. The clash over these constituencies underscores the complexities of the alliance’s seat-sharing negotiations as they prepare for the upcoming elections.