This would mean a political scenario at play in Andhra Pradesh that has many key players deliberating over new alliances. Even someone like former minister Avanti Srinivas, the one-time stalwart from YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), is talking up a switch to Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party.
Avanti’s political journey has been marked by dramatic turns. He stepped into politics in 2009 with Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), quickly earning a place as a trusted associate of the Megastar. Following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Avanti joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and successfully contested as a Member of Parliament from Anakapalle in 2014. However, internal disputes with senior TDP leader Ganta Srinivasa Rao led him to exit the party.
Antecedent to the 2019 elections, Avanti became a member of YSRCP, filed from Bheemili constituency and won. He later served in the cabinet of Jagan Mohan Reddy as a minister. After gaining such an initial success, the political power of Avanti has begun to decline as he has lost the 2024 elections to Ganta Srinivasa Rao. Since then, he remained at a distance from YSRCP activities, which raises widespread speculations regarding his future course of action.
According to sources close to the matter, Avanti has been in touch with leaders from both the TDP and Jana Sena Party. There was an indication that he might return to TDP, but opposition from local TDP leaders, who said that he had differences with them in the past, seems to have nipped that possibility in the bud. According to reports, this has nudged Avanti closer to the Jana Sena Party, and initial talks were said to have been facilitated by his close aides.
Avanti’s possible entry into Jana Sena is, however, not without its challenges. His past criticisms of Pawan Kalyan and the latter’s responses have fueled debates on how the party’s core supporters might perceive this move. Nonetheless, political analysts opine that Avanti’s significant influence in the Visakhapatnam region could be a strategic advantage for Jana Sena as it seeks to strengthen its base ahead of the next elections.
If Avanti formally merges with the Jana Sena Party, it could mean that the party was really critical in its approach because of gaining momentum and forging alliances across Andhra Pradesh, thus leaving a significant future in this state’s politics.
