Jana Sena has nominated women for four of the five mayoral and municipal chairperson posts it is contesting in the second phase of Andhra Pradesh’s local body elections, with the selection of Akula Bhavani ending speculation over the Kakinada mayoral seat.
The candidate list was finalised by Jana Sena president and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan at the party’s central office in Mangalagiri on Sunday. The party has fielded women for both mayoral posts and two of the three municipal chairperson positions covered by its nominations.
Dr Daneti Radha Rani has been selected as the party’s nominee for the Srikakulam mayoral post. Akula Bhavani will contest the Kakinada mayoral seat.
For the municipal chairperson positions, Jana Sena has nominated Banasetti Soujanya Latha for Rajam, Dr Chunduri Malleshwari for Bhimavaram and Paluru Venkateswara Rao for Tadepalligudem. The nominations cover five civic leadership positions across municipalities and cities in the state.
The announcement also counters social media reports that Jana Sena was considering giving up the Kakinada mayoral post in favour of its alliance partner, the Telugu Desam, because it had not identified a suitable candidate. By naming Akula Bhavani, the party has confirmed that it will contest the post itself.
Municipal mayoral and chairperson nominations are significant because they determine which candidates will seek the political leadership of urban local bodies during the forthcoming phase of the state’s local elections. The selected candidates will now enter the election process under the party’s banner, subject to the applicable electoral schedule and procedures.
Following the announcement, Pawan Kalyan directed the nominees, party leaders and workers to prepare election plans and strengthen coordination ahead of the polls. The party did not provide further details in the supplied announcement on campaign schedules, ward-level arrangements or the election dates for the five posts.
The nominations place four women at the centre of Jana Sena’s municipal contest in Srikakulam, Kakinada, Rajam and Bhimavaram, while Paluru Venkateswara Rao will contest the chairperson position in Tadepalligudem. The next formal steps will be the preparation of election plans and coordination among the candidates, party leadership and workers before the second phase of local body elections.
