Election Commission registers Pawan Kalyan's Party

The Telangana State Election Commission today registered actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan's Janasena Party as an authorised political party. "The Telangana State Election Commission hereby registers the Janasena Party as a political party without a reserved symbol. The registration shall not entitle the party for reservation of any exclusive symbol for it. "However, the candidates duly set up by this party in local body elections (held on party basis) will be entitled to preferential treatment over independent candidates in allotment of free symbols," the Commission said in its order. With the registration, the party can now field candidates in the upcoming Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) polls, expected to be held this year. Pawan Kalyan, younger brother of Telugu superstar and former Union Minister Chiranjeevi, announced the formation of Janasena ahead of last year's general elections. His vigorous campaign in support of TDP-BJP combine in the elections is believed to be one of the major reasons for its success at the hustings. Pawan Kalyan, a top-ranking Telugu hero himself, has a huge following in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. His party's entry could affect the political dynamics if it chooses to contest the GHMC polls which are seen as the big test for the TRS government's popularity.