Nara Lokesh, son of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, seems to be unwilling to divulge his plans for making a foray into electoral politics. Asked whether he would contest from the Tirupati Assembly seat, which was vacated following the death of M. Venkata Ramana, Mr. Lokesh said “the TDP as a party has a policy of giving opportunity to family members, if an MLA / MP dies in a harness. It is for the leadership to take a decision on such issues.”
To a query on whether he planned to contest in the 2019 polls, he said “it is a long way to go. We shall see what the almighty wishes.”
Mr. Lokesh was in the district on a day’s visit to Gudivada and Machilipatnam for interacting with party cadre and participating in some welfare works. At Gudivada, he congratulated the party rank and file for achieving a massive 50 lakh target in the membership drive in just 50 days.
The Chief Minister was fulfilling the electoral promises in spite of budgetary constraints and this was attracting more people into the party fold. It was now for the party cadre to vigorously take the spree of welfare and developmental programmes initiated by the TDP government to grassroots level.
At Machilipatnam, where he called on an acid attack victim, Mr. Lokesh launched a trenchant attack on the YSR Congress and its president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy. He criticised the main Opposition for its reported attempts to create obstacles in the development of the capital region.
“Farmers are willing to give their lands for the new capital. The scenario is not like what the YSRC is trying to project it to be,” said Mr. Lokesh.
