Visakhapatnam: Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan has been gradually cementing his position in the political terrain of north-coastal Andhra Pradesh. Or so it seems. Even though the region is known to be a bastion of the ruling TDP right from the formation of the party in 1982, the Jana Sena is hoping to dislodge it by opening its arms to outsiders.According to sources, Jana Sena has pinned its hopes on north-coastal Andhra for the 2019 elections. After joining politics, the Telugu cinema superstar strategically launched his first tour from this region. There are 34 assembly seats in the region, and they could be a deciding factor in the formation of the next government. The party hopes to bag a sizeable chunk of seats from this region.Pawan Kalyan’s agenda for the tour consists to two aspects, said sources. First is to take stock of problems — be it Uddanam kidney issue, bauxite mining in Vizag agency, Vamsadhara project evacuees, port pollution in Vizag city, VIMS privatisation, or allocating land to IT companies at throwaway prices — at the ground level. The second is to expand the reach of Jana Sena, and convey it’s agenda to the public.By raising various issues from one of the backward regions of the state, the Jana Sena chief is trying to boost his party’s credentials. He is not hesitating to go all out against the ruling party. During his ongoing Praja Porata Yatra in the region, Pawan did not mince his words while criticising the TDP, the YSRCP or the BJP.A source said that Jana Sena will release its manifesto in August.What has come as a boost to the party is that several prominent leaders from other parties have shifted loyalties to Jana Sena in recent times. The party also held a protest march with thousands of activists in the city.

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