TDP-Jana Sena to release joint manifesto; welfare, single capital, and free sand policy are key points

During the visit, Pawan Kalyan highlighted the need for a joint manifesto.

Related: Pawan Kalyan announces Jana Sena-TDP alliance for Andhra polls

Free sand, Amaravati, and more

The joint manifesto focuses on welfare to counter the ruling YSRCP, which is pitching its Navaratnalu — nine popular welfare schemes — to the people.

Interestingly, key political issues were also mentioned in the 11-point manifesto, such as free sand. Naidu had made sand free in 2016, during his 2014-2019 tenure in office, a decision that was overturned by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy soon after taking power.

A fresh complaint was filed recently by the Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (CID) against Naidu for allegedly misusing and deliberately benefiting private entities with his government’s free sand policy.

The joint manifesto by the TDP and the Jana Sena also designates Amaravati as the single capital of Andhra Pradesh.

Interestingly, Jagan is yet to reintroduce the three-capitals Bill — with the executive capital at Vizag, the legislative capital at Amaravati, and the judicial capital at Kurnool — which was withdrawn in 2021 so as to bring a “stronger” Bill that would address all legal complexities.

A case related to the three-capitals imbroglio, filed by Amaravati farmers who pooled their land for the greenfield capital, is currently in the Supreme Court.

Jagan is likely to shift his base to Visakhapatnam by January, with elections just in a few months away.

Five points added by Jana Sena

Y Ramakrishnudu, former finance minister and senior TDP leader, said that the Jana Sena proposed adding five points to the TDP’s existing six in its manifesto, which was titled ‘Bhavishyathuku Guarantee’ (Guarantees for the Future), bringing the total to 11.

The final 11 points reportedly cover the following:

1. Mahashakti (women’s empowerment);
2. Yuva Galam (youth empowerment);
3. Sampanna Andhra Pradesh to focus on development;
4. Sowbaghya (for small-scale business empowerment);
5. Annadata (farmers’ welfare);
6. Drinking water for every house;
7. A law similar to the SC/ST Protection Act for Backward Classes (BCs);
8. A programme called Poor-to-Rich;
9. Amaravati as the single capital;
10. Free sand policy;
11. And the welfare of labourers.

“A six-member committee will prepare a draft of the joint mini-manifesto. This draft would then be submitted for approval to the top committees of both parties. Once ready, the mini-manifesto will be presented to the public, featuring images of TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Chief Pawan Kalyan,” Ramakrishnudu said.

Also Read: Pawan Kalyan to campaign for BJP-Jana Sena in Telangana

The BJP dilemma

Meanwhile, the BJP — which is allied with Jana Sena in Andhra Pradesh, and has also tied up the party for the Telangana Assembly polls, where it is contesting 111 seats, leaving Pawan Kalyan’s party with eight seats — has not officially reacted to the actor-politician’s announcement in September that it was allying with the TDP for the 2024 election.

The BJP is reportedly not keen on allying with the TDP after the two parted ways in 2018, ahead of the state and Lok Sabha elections.

Pawan Kalyan and the TDP, on the other hand, are already jointly planning poll campaigns and manifestos.

In interactions with the media at the BJP’s Vijayawada office, Andhra BJP chief Daggubati Purandeshwari has evaded questions related to the status of the saffron party’s alliance with the Jana Sena, saying: “It is the party’s top leaders who should take a call; I’m waiting for their response to talk on this in the state.”

Pawan Kalyan has clarified to his cadre as well as the public that the rumours of him leaving the BJP alliance were untrue.

“The talks are still ongoing with the BJP. I am ready to go to elections with anyone who joins the TDP-Jana Sena alliance. I strongly request BJP leadership come along with us. My priority is the state and people,” he has said.

While the TDP remains silent on a possible alliance with the BJP, recently, after Naidu’s arrest, Nara Lokesh met with BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi and briefed him about the arrest and events unfolding in Andhra Pradesh, sparking speculation of a thaw in ties.