Pawan's Jena Sena will not contest polls

Visakhapatnam, 27 March: The much-hyped maiden public meeting of Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan went on expected lines where the actor focused more on elaborating his political ideas rather than using the platform as his launchpad for the forthcoming elections.

While he came down heavily against the Congress party yet again, he made it clear that his party is preparing for a long haul with the 2019 polls in mind. The actor, however, warned the political parties that Jana Sena would be the watchdog to protect the interests of the people in both the states.

The party would not hesitate to launch a people's movement in case the ruling parties stray from the path of public welfare and indulge in selfish politics, he declared.

Objecting strongly to the backlash on his meeting with BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Pawan Kalyan pointed out that those who were criticising him were the very same parties that leaned on the right and left wing parties to pass the AP Reorganisation Bill in Parliament.

He said he respects BJP and Modi for being committed to the policy of smaller states and believed that only Modi can take the country forward as he does not fear anything and stands for what he believes in.

'We need such leaders who speak and act bravely. I met him only to pour out the hearts of the Telugu people before him. From this platform, I say - Dear Sri Modiji, sir I believe in your vision and definite leadership. I would like to see you as our Prime Minister of Bharat desh. You are going to be our Prime Minister,' he stated, to wild applause from the crowd.

The actor-turned-politician raged at the Congress leaders for backstabbing the people who believed in them. 'No one played such a cruel political game since our Independence. The Congress leaders are only interested in power and politics but not public. They did not spend as much time deciding on state bifurcation as they had on devising their poll strategies. Sonia Gandhi has to realise her mistake and apologise to the Telugu people for dividing the state in such a manner,' he added.

He ridiculed the promises of 'packages' and declared that financial packages cannot do justice to people who have been torn apart. Alleging that the Congress party was using the investigative agencies as per its whims and fancies and making scapegoats of public officials, he exhorted the need for a sound judiciary and solid investigative mechanism that cannot be infiltrated or used to meet the selfish motives of the ruling parties. He also lambasted the Congress party for creating a rift between people of two regions and posing a threat to national integrity.

While the actor made it clear that the Jana Sena Party would not contest the forthcoming elections, he wanted the people to vote for only those candidates 'who will build the state and the nation', hinting at the TDP and BJP.

'I am searching for honest and fearless leaders among you who have the determination to work for the society rather than indulging in mere politics. I will not contest elections unless I find such leaders. But when I do contest, I would contest from both states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh,' declared the actor to rousing cheers and applause from the public. However, he assured that the Jana Sena would play monitor for the political parties likely to come to power and will initiate a peoples' movement against them if they fail to keep their promises.

As for the ideologies on which his own party is based, the Jana Sena chief released his book 'ISM' on the occasion, and said that it explains the political credo on which his principles lie, with commitment towards justice for all, ethics in politics and putting public before personal interests. He said that the party's agenda is to uproot corrupt and unjust politics and not to wield power.

Taking a dig at businessmen-turned-politicians, Pawan Kalyan alleged that leaders like Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, Kavuri Sambasiva Rao and Botcha Satyanarayana are more interested in contracts for their business development than looking after people's welfare. He urged the corrupt politicians to spend at least one-third of the funds sanctioned for the works in their constituency. He stated that if politicians continue to ignore people, his party would build a movement against them.

'POWER' CUT?

Though the organisers claimed that more than one lakh people are expected to participate in the public meeting of the Jana Sena Party, not more than 50,000 attended the meetingm which was delayed by about an hour beyond the scheduled time of 6 pm due to thinner crowds.

The public started pouring-in only after 6 pm. Though more than 50 per cent of the stadium was empty, the crowd jostled with each other near the stage as people were keen on having a close look at their matinee idol. Police had to resort to mild lathicharge to control the crowd.