Janasena ‘Glass’ Free, A Setback To Pawan?

In a big shock to Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan, the Election Commission had included the party symbol, glass, in the list of free symbols. Further, the EC failed to recognize Pawan’s outfit as a political party. Ahead of the elections, this has led to tension among the JS cadre.

It is pertinent to note that the JS had won only a single seat in the 2019 elections. Pawan Kalyan had lost at both places from where he contested. With the Jana Sena not gaining the minimum required number of votes for recognition of the party, the ‘glass’ symbol was included in the free symbol list. Now, this will allow any independent candidate contesting the elections in Andhra Pradesh to pick the symbol.

Jana Sena had been pushed into an existential threat with the EC failing to recognize it as a political party. Recently, the Election Commission announced the political parties that won recognition as national and regional parties. While eight parties were recognized as national parties, five were identified as regional parties but Jana Sena did not figure in the list.

This is being considered as a setback to Jana Sena leader and actor Pawan Kalyan. As per the EC rules, any political party should secure 6% of the total number of votes polled during any elections, to get recognition. At the same time, the party should win at least a couple of seats. Only then would any party would get recognition as a regional party.

In 2019, the Jana Sena polled 6% of the total number of votes but could not fulfill the two-seat rule and hence, the party symbol was included in the free list.

The Jana Sena could have retained the party symbol, had the party won at least one of the 25 MP seats in the state. It has to be seen how Pawan and the ruling YCP would react to this development.