BIG BROTHER!! Pawan Kalyan Nominates Naga Babu as Janasena’s MLC Candidate for AP Elections
Janasena Party chief and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has selected his elder brother, Konidela Naga Babu, as the party’s candidate for the upcoming MLC elections.
In a significant political move, Janasena Party chief and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has selected his elder brother, Konidela Naga Babu, as the party’s candidate for the upcoming Member of Legislative Council (MLC) elections. The announcement, made on Wednesday, underscores the growing influence of the Janasena Party within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition in Andhra Pradesh, which includes the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Naga Babu, a well-known actor and film producer in the Telugu industry, currently serves as the general secretary of Janasena. His nomination for the MLC elections under the MLAs’ quota was confirmed by Pawan Kalyan, the party president, as part of the NDA’s strategic alliance. A press release from Janasena stated, “For the MLC elections under MLAs quota, party president Pawan Kalyan confirmed the name of K Naga Babu as the candidate on behalf of the alliance (NDA).” This decision reflects the party’s intent to leverage familial ties and political loyalty to strengthen its presence in the state’s legislative council.
The Election Commission recently notified biennial elections for five MLC seats in Andhra Pradesh, with polling scheduled for March 20, 2025. These seats will be elected by the state’s MLAs, giving the NDA a strong advantage given its dominant performance in the 2024 Assembly elections. The coalition secured a landslide victory, winning 164 out of 175 seats, with Janasena clinching all 21 seats it contested, emerging as the second-largest party in the state assembly.
Naga Babu’s political journey has been closely tied to his brother’s ambitions. Since Janasena’s inception in 2014, he has been a steadfast supporter of Pawan Kalyan, campaigning actively during elections. His electoral debut in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Narsapuram was unsuccessful, finishing third, but his commitment to the party remained unwavering. Reports suggest that this MLC candidacy could pave the way for his induction into the state cabinet, fulfilling Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s earlier promise to appoint him as a minister.
Pawan Kalyan’s decision to nominate Naga Babu also highlights the strategic sacrifices made to bolster the NDA alliance. In 2024, Janasena relinquished key seats to accommodate the BJP, a move credited with enhancing Andhra Pradesh’s financial and political leverage at the national level. With the MLC elections approaching, Naga Babu’s candidacy is poised to further solidify Janasena’s role in the state’s governance.
