VIJAYAWADA: BJP’s electoral prospects in Andhra Pradesh would be damaged if it did not keep the promises made before the general elections, said Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan. The Centre has responsibility to bail out AP either through a massive financial package or special category status (SCS), he emphasised.

Addressing a press conference at the chief minister’s camp office here on Thursday, Pawan said that they are still hopeful of the Centre doing justice to the state. “I discussed the issue of special package and SCS with the CM. We have decided to react only after the Centre makes its stance clear on the issue. Since they are yet to do so, there is no point in going overboard,” he remarked.

Warning that BJP leaders could not go back now on assurances to help AP on the floor of parliament, Pawan said that his reaction would be different if the Centre ignores AP. Interestingly, it was BJP’s Kamineni Srinivas who played a key role in organising the film star-turned-politician’s meeting with N Chandrababu Naidu. The state health minister accompanied him from Hyderabad to the CMO and was present while Pawan interacted with the media.

Incidentally, he refused to comment on Bihar election results where BJP lost badly. The ‘Power Star’ explained that he met the CM to congratulate him on successful conduct of Amaravati’s foundation ceremony which he could not attend due to film shooting.

Pawan admitted an inability to expand his base at the moment. To a specific query about Jana Sena’s future, he replied: “I do not have funds to run the political party (for the next elections).” Hinting at an entry into the fray by 2019, he added that his supporters would campaign in all villages and mandals before the state goes to the polls again.

The younger brother of former union minister and Congress leader Chiranjeevi had announced the formation of a new party ahead of last year's general elections. His vigorous campaign in support of TDP-BJP combine in 2014 is believed to be one of the major reasons for its success at the hustings. Pawan has a huge following in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.