Telugu filmstar K Kalyan Kumar, popularly known as Pawan Kalyan, today launched his political party, weeks ahead of assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh.
Pawan, who is Union Minister and Congress leader K Chiranjeevi's youngest brother, launched "Jana Sena" at a closed-door event here this evening.
"This is a Sena of the common people and of the country," he said in an emotion-charged tone.
Jana Sena, meaning people's army, has a six-pointed star inside a circle as its emblem, symbolising among other things a "revolution".
Pawan has acted in many blockbuster movies in Telugu and carved out an image for himself.
When Chiranjeevi, himself a popular filmstar, launched Praja Rajyam Party in 2008, Pawan headed its youth wing Yuva Rajyam and campaigned vigorously, often targeting Congress, then the ruling party in Andhra Pradesh.
A few years later, Chiranjeevi merged his outfit with Congress and got elected to Rajya Sabha.
There have been reports that all was not well between the star-brothers ever since Chiranjeevi merged his PRP with Congress as Pawan was totally opposed to it.
In the last few years, however, Pawan focused only on films. His recent hits like 'Gabbar Singh' (a remake of Hindi movie 'Dabbang') revived his career and placed him in the top league of Telugu film industry.
A man with strong emotions and deep thoughts, often revolutionary, in the political system and society, Pawan was said to have toyed with the idea of charting his own political path after his eldest brother could not run PRP.
In 2007, following a skirmish in the family, Pawan announced he would launch a "common man's protection force" to address the concerns of people and earmarked Rs one crore from his personal funds.
But CPF remained a non-starter and subsequently Pawan played a key role in the formation of PRP.
Star, which will be Jana Sena's emblem, will have a white background that signifies peace and stability while red colour signifies revolution.
The six-pointed star will reflect the ideals of the party. A dot in the centre of the star represents the soul of every being. The black lining denotes the harmony of the opposites, according to the party.
