Janasena did not contest the 2014 elections, but its support was crucial for the victory of the TDP-BJPalliance in Andhra Pradesh.[8] The party gained prominence for highlighting issues such as the chronic kidney disease crisis in Uddanam in 2017, which was described by the WHO as "the least understood and the least publicized nephropathy."[9] It later led protests against forced land acquisition, illegal mining in reserved forests, and drought-related issues in 2018.[10]
In 2019, JSP contested its first elections, winning one MLA seat and securing approximately 6% of the vote share. Subsequently, it focused on grassroots issues, including farmer welfare, illegal sand mining, women's safety, and land encroachment. In early 2024, Pawan Kalyan played a key role in the formation of an alliance between the JSP, TDP and BJP, known as Kūṭami (lit.'Alliance'). The alliance achieved a landslide victory in both the general and state legislative assembly elections, with the JSP winning all 21 MLA seats and two MP seats it contested, becoming a significant part of the ruling coalition in Andhra Pradesh.[11]
Ideology
The main goal of the Janasena Party is to question any type of corruption in government functioning and organizations and to protect the basic rights of people. Janasena follows seven basic ideals promoted as 'Ideals of Janasena' ('Janasena Sidhanthalu' in Telugu):
Mindset that unites different castes
Politics without religious discrimination
Tradition that reveres linguistic diversity
Society that protects our traditions and culture
Nationalism that does not neglect regional aspirations
Relentless fight against corruption
Development that preserves the environment
The party founder and president, Pawan Kalyan, has often stated that he believes in a centrist path, and in maintaining a balance or a middle ground between right and left ideologies.[1][12] He added, "Many people say we don’t understand your -ism. I say to them that my -ism is humanism."[12] He also mentioned that he follows Sanatana Dharma but also respects other religions.[13][14][15]
History
Formation
On 12 March 2014, it was officially announced that Telugumatinée idol and philanthropist Pawan Kalyan, was launching a new political party. In preparation for the launch, Kalyan reportedly visited Delhi to register the party with the Election Commission of India (ECI).[16]
Kalyan formally launched the party at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) in Madhapur, Hyderabad, on 14 March 2014 with a massive meeting.[5][17] The party was named Janasena (transl. People's Army), and Kalyan urged people to challenge those in power. He unveiled the party's flag and objectives at the event attended by 6,000 people. Kalyan criticized the Congress Party high command for the state's issues, accusing them of dividing the state without addressing the people's concerns.[5]
The party held its second public meeting in Visakhapatnam on March 27, 2014, where Kalyan launched the book Ism, co-authored with Raju Raviteja.[18] The Election Commission approved the party on November 28, 2014.[19]
In September 2016, Pawan Kalyan's public criticism of the BJP and TDP over the delay in granting Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh led to increased political pressure.[22] Ten days after Kalyan's Tirupati meeting, where he condemned the central government's inaction, the Union Government announced a 'special package' for the state in a midnight press conference.[24] Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu accepted the package, but Kalyan, at a massive public gathering named Seemandhrula Atma Gaurava Sabha in Kakinada on 9 September 2016, dismissed the concessions as eyewash, resonating with public sentiment and further criticizing Naidu’s compliance with the BJP. One political commentator described the announcement of the special package as a 'political victory' for Pawan Kalyan, highlighting his significant influence.[24]
In November 2016, it was announced that the first office of the Janasena Party (JSP) would be established in Anantapur the following year, with plans to contest the 2019 general election.[25]
Spotlight on the Uddanam kidney disease crisis
Pawan Kalyan brought attention to the Uddanam kidney disease issue in Srikakulam district by requesting Harvard University doctors to participate in clinical research on local kidney problems.[26] He subsequently held a meeting in Visakhapatnam with these Harvard doctors and local scientists. Kalyan also met with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to discuss the Uddanam situation, leading to the establishment of a dialysis centre in the region.[27][28] In May 2018, he went on a one-day hunger strike for proper care of patients in Uddanam in May 2018.[29]
On 21 February 2017, Kalyan announced that he would launch a website on 14 March to mark the party's anniversary and invite recommendations for the party manifesto in the 2019 general election.[30]
The fourth formation day of JSP was conducted at Acharya Nagarjuna University grounds on March 14, 2018. Kalyan criticized both central and state governments in this meeting. He mainly targeted Arun Jaitley, N. Chandrababu Naidu and Nara Lokesh for their poor governance and alleged corruption. He said, "I supported the TDP and the BJP parties during the general elections held in 2014 with the hope that they would rebuild the state which had no Capital and no financial resources. But the state government has belied my hopes and the aspirations of crores of people. Why should I support these parties which have betrayed the people?" He questioned Chandrababu Naidu about his son's alleged corruption.[31][32]
In December 2017, Kalyan opposed the central government's move to privatize the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI).[33][34] In July 2018, he opposed the TDP government's decision on forced land pooling.[35] In October 2018, he organized a march on the historical Dowleswaram Barrage, Rajahmundry, demanding political accountability.[36] In November 2018, he exposed the alleged unchecked mining in the reserved forest area at Vanthada village of Prathipadu, East Godavari district.[37] In December 2018, he led a protest march to condole the families of farmers who committed suicide or migrated from the drought-prone regions of Rayalaseema.[10] The prime objective of Janasena Party has been to ensure equal power to all social groups of people.[38]
Kalyan released the party's 2019 election manifesto on the fifth formation day of JSP at Rajahmundry.[44] The party declared war on unemployment and corruption and wished to ensure the safety of women. Other goals included:
Irrigation support fund of ₹8,000 per acre to every farmer's family[45]
Dokka Seethamma canteens, which provide free food for students
₹5,000 pension for small, marginal and tenant farmers above 60 years of age and free solar pump sets for all farmers
After the 2019 setback, Janasena focused on highlighting issues like farmer welfare, transparent governance, poor infrastructure, illegal sand mining, women's safety, land encroachment etc. On 3 November 2019, Kalyan led a long march in Visakhapatnam in support of construction workers, against YSR Congress Party, who have been facing unemployment due to a shortage of supply of sand in Andhra Pradesh.[49] On 16 January 2020, Kalyan announced his party's alliance with the BJP, after three years of distancing from it.[50] On 12 February 2020, he led a rally for justice to Sugali Preethi, a 15-year-old girl who was raped and murdered, in Kurnool.[51] He demanded an inquiry by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the incident.[52] In late 2022, Kalyan started 'Jana Vani,' a series of small public meetings to hear people's grievances.[53]
2023 Varahi Yatra
In 2023, Kalyan undertook a tour in the state on a customized vehicle named Varahi, aimed at highlighting the failures of Jagan Mohan Reddy's administration. The vehicle used for the trip is a camper van having facilities like a bed, cooking appliances, a bathroom, and a compact meeting area.[54] The tour also included the 'Jana Vani' programme, where the party received petitions from people seeking redressal of their grievances. Later, the grievances were to the notice of the concerned authorities to get them addressed.[17]
On 14 September 2023, Kalyan announced via a press conference, that the JSP and TDP would jointly fight the 2024 Andhra Pradesh legislative elections.[56][57] In March 2024, TDP rejoined the NDA for legislative elections and 2024 General Elections, effectively making it a tri-party alliance, or Kutami, in Andhra Pradesh.[58][59][60] Kalyan played a key role in forging the alliance between JSP, TDP and BJP by limiting the number of seats his party contested. The alliance swept to power in a landslide victory, with Janasena winning each of the seats it contested — 21 MLA seats and 2 MP seats. Kalyan was elected to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly from Pitapuram constituency by a margin of over 70,000 votes.[61]
After the 2024 elections, the Janasena Party (JSP) attained eligibility for recognized party status. According to the Election Commission's guidelines, a party can achieve state party status by securing at least three per cent of the total number of seats. JSP exceeded this threshold by winning 13% of the seats in the state, qualifying for the status.[62]
Janasena in coalition government
On 12 June 2024, party president Pawan Kalyan was sworn in as a cabinet minister in the Government of Andhra Pradesh, and on 16 June 2024, he was announced as the Deputy Chief Minister.[63] He is also the Minister of Panchayat Raj, Rural Development & Rural Water Supply; Environment, Forests, Science & Technology.[64][65]
On the same day, two other Janasena legislators and Pawan Kalyan were sworn in as ministers. Nadendla Manohar became the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs, while Kandula Durgesh became the Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Cinematography.[66]
In October 2024, amidst the Tirupati Laddu controversy, Pawan Kalyan issued a clarion call through his Varahi declaration in Tirupati, advocating for the formation of a board dedicated to protecting temples and Hindu interests..[69][70]
Membership Milestone
In early August 2024, the Janasena Party (JSP) reached a major milestone by exceeding one million members.[71] The party, which had set a goal to enrol one million new members within the year, achieved this target as reported in August 2024, compared to 6.47 lakh done in 2023 and 3.50 lakh and 1 lakh in 2022 and 2021 respectively. The growth was highlighted by party leaders, including Nadendla Manohar, who underscored the significance of this expansion for the party’s future political initiatives.[71][72]
^ ab"Pawan Kalyan's Janasena gets Election Commission's approval". The Hindu. 11 December 2014. ISSN0971-751X. Retrieved 4 August 2024. The 43-year-old star had campaigned extensively in support of the TDP-BJP combine in undivided Andhra Pradesh for the general elections earlier this year. His campaign is believed to be one of the key factors in the success of the TDP-BJP combine in the elections.
^"Uddanam kidney disease remains medical enigma despite research". The Times of India. 16 December 2017. ISSN0971-8257. Retrieved 1 August 2024. Though people in Uddanam have been suffering from kidney diseases of unknown cause (etiology) for decades, the village shot into prominence in January this year when Jana Sena leader and actor Pawan Kalyan took up the cause. His diatribe against the authorities forced the state government to seek the help of international health and medical experts.
^"Kakinada: All those aligned with BJP aren't communal, says Pawan Kalyan". The Hans India. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2024. Stating that he strongly opposes extremism in any party, he said there is harmony and coexistence in Indian society and that's why people live here peacefully. Pawan said that Indian Hindu society stands for all religions. He made it clear that he was a Hindu, but all Muslims were his brothers.
^"Pawan Kalyan's Janasena gets Election Commission's approval". The Hindu. 11 December 2014. ISSN0971-751X. Retrieved 4 August 2024. "The Election Commission of India has given registration to the 'Janasena Party' as a political party Under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act,1951 with effect from 24.11.2014 vide Registration Number 56/118/2014/PPS-I dated 28.11.2014," the outfit said in a statement on Thursday.
^ ab"Special category status for AP: Pawan Kalyan set to fire first salvo". Business Line. 6 September 2016. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019. Pawan Kalyan, who did not contest the elections in 2014, lent his support to the Telugu Desam-BJP alliance in the State and is said to have played a key role in securing the vote of the Kapu caste for the alliance, paving the way for the victory of the TDP-BJP combine in many coastal districts.
^"Uddanam kidney disease remains medical enigma despite research". The Times of India. 16 December 2017. ISSN0971-8257. Retrieved 1 August 2024. Though people in Uddanam have been suffering from kidney diseases of unknown cause (etiology) for decades, the village shot into prominence in January this year when Jana Sena leader and actor Pawan Kalyan took up the cause. His diatribe against the authorities forced the state government to seek the help of international health and medical experts.
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