Andhra Pradesh: Telugu Desam Party, Jana Sena Jointly Declare 99 Candidates For Assembly Elections, Wait For BJP For Other Seats

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Jana Sena Party (JSP) on Saturday (24 February) declared 99 candidates jointly in their first list for the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections, set to be held along with Lok Sabha elections.

Of the 99 declared candidates, five are from Pawan Kalyan-led JSP and 94 are from the N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP. However, Indian Express reported that the JSP might contest 24 seats, leaving 57 seats for sharing with BJP.

There are 175 seats in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, of which the ruling YSR Congress Party won 151 seats while TDP and JSP won 23 and one seat respectively in the 2019 elections. BJP and Congress couldn't win a single seat.

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP president Naidu is set to contest from Kuppam, an assembly constituency he has been representing since 1989, while his son and party general secretary N Lokesh Naidu will contest from Mangalagiri.

"Our alliance is for a greater cause that is the future of this state. Announcing our first list jointly is a good start for that effort. Andhra Pradesh’s reputation and image has suffered under YSR Congress Party rule," Naidu said.

BJP state leaders say that a decision on alliance with TDP-JSP will be taken by the central leadership. The announcement of an alliance can come along with finalisation of seat-sharing for Lok Sabha elections as well.