Published Feb 14, 2026 | 3:27 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 14, 2026 | 3:27 PM
Andhra Pradesh DyCM and JSP chief Pawan Kalyan. Credit: x.com/JanaSenaParty
Synopsis: Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party, kingmaker in Andhra Pradesh’s 2024 polls, faced a humiliating rout in Telangana’s municipal elections. Contesting 336 wards, many JSP candidates polled fewer votes than NOTA, with some reduced to single digits. Despite isolated wins, the party’s lack of cadre, cancelled campaign tour, and Congress-BRS dominance left JSP struggling for relevance.
A day after counting of votes ended for municipal elections in Telangana, the shimmering fact that emerged was that Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party has fallen flat on its face.
JSP was king maker in 2024 Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh but the defeat it suffered in Telangana urban polls was as humiliating as it was debilitating.
Kalyan fielded candidates in 336 wards across various municipalities but many of its nominees polling fewer votes than the “None of the Above” (NOTA) option.
In several cases, JSP candidates received single-digit tallies, underscoring the party’s negligible traction in Telangana despite Pawan Kalyan’s blockbuster films consistently dominating box offices in the state.
The elections, held on 11 February across 116 municipalities and seven municipal corporations with over 73 percent voter turnout, saw the ruling Congress party dominate, bagging 1,347 wards out of 2,582 in municipalities alone. BRS followed with 716, while BJP – JSP’s alliance partner – won 261. JSP’s performance was so dismal that it opened its account only in isolated pockets, far from the “dozen wards” it had hoped for.
One rare bright spot for JSP came in Ward 14 of Nereducherla Municipality in Suryapet district, where candidate Aruri Vijayalakshmi won by a narrow margin of 60 votes.
Party leaders hailed it as the “first step” in JSP’s growth in Telangana, with general secretary Ram Talluri posting on X: “This is the beginning of Jana Sena Party’s growth in Telangana.” Similarly, Aggu Sagar secured Division 34 in Mancherial Municipal Corporation by 31 votes, giving JSP a toehold in a corporation poll.
However, these isolated wins were overshadowed by widespread routs. In Ward 4 of Sangareddy Municipality, candidate Janga Komuraiah polled a mere two votes initially, prompting him to demand a recount. He reportedly told officials, “I have six members in my family, having voting rights,” implying his own kin had turned their backs on him.
The recount confirmed just one vote—likely his own—leaving the candidate red-faced and silent as he exited the counting hall. This incident, widely shared on social media, exemplified the party’s disconnect even at the grassroots level.
In Devarakonda Ward 16 (Nalgonda district), JSP got 1 vote against NOTA’s 2. In another municipal town, JSP polled 9 while NOTA tallied 33 in one ward; elsewhere, JSP managed just 3 against NOTA’s 33.
Telangana politics are very interesting🙏
The way people are going to polling booths to vote for janasena tells how strong Janasena is in Telangana 🔥🔥🤙
Finally its, JSP vs NOTA 🥵
JSP – 3 Votes
NOTA – 33 Votes pic.twitter.com/yz7AOrG8ip— 𝙍𝙊𝙊𝙏𝙎🚩 (@SpeakTheActuals) February 13, 2026
Multiple Instagram reels and X posts mocked JSP for “single-digit fanbase,” with captions like “NOTA >>> JSP” and visuals comparing vote counts. In Hyderabad and surrounding urban wards, the JSP candidates failed to breach even double digits.
The humiliation extended to Pawan Kalyan himself, who became a butt of ridicule. Initially, JSP announced his high-profile campaign tour in Telangana to boost candidates, building on his stature as a “power star” whose films like They Call Him OG and others have been superhits in Telangana.
But, the plan was abruptly cancelled, leaving the party’s 336 candidates to fend for themselves. Rival camps, including BRS supporters, pounced on the move. Memes proliferated: “Kingmaker in AP, zero in Telangana,” and jabs like “Even family didn’t vote—imagine the fans.” X threads and Instagram reels trolled Pawan Kalyan no end.
NOTA challenging JSP in every election be like : pic.twitter.com/EqzHZrxqyS
— ＧᴏᴅＰʀᴀꜱᴀᴅ_Ｙᴛ™ (@GodPrasadYT) February 13, 2026
The fiasco stands in sharp relief to Kalyan’s 2024 AP triumph.
As part of the TDP-BJP-JSP alliance, JSP won all 21 seats it contested with a 5.53 percent vote share, playing kingmaker in Chandrababu Naidu’s victory.
Kalyan’s fiery speeches and fan army propelled NDA to a landslide. Yet in Telangana, where his movies routinely smash records—drawing massive crowds in Hyderabad and beyond—political loyalty evaporated.
Kalyan’s decision to stay away from campaigning apparently did the party in. Lack of local cadre and Telangana’s polarised Congress-BRS contest has left little wiggle-room for newcomers like JSP. Contesting 336 seats without a strong base or Kalyan on the ground proved to be the party’s grim reaper.
(Edited by Amit Vasudev)
