The main focus of the TDP’s annual Mahanadu at Kadapa that concluded on Thursday seems to be to focus on minister Nara Lokesh as the undisputed leader of the party. Though presently the demand is only to make him as working president of the party, in all practical purposes clear indications were given that from now onwards he will be the `real boss’ of the party.
NTR, who founded TDP, was the president till 1995. Chandrababu Naidu has been continuing since 1995. Now, for the first time, the demand to hand over the reins of the party to Lokesh was heard in loud voice from the third generation of the party. With this, it is reported that Lokesh is likely to be announced as the working president at the time of formation of the full-fledged committee.
TDP seniors say that they have received signals to this extent from Chandrababu to this extent. Moreover, the role Lokesh played in the Mahanadu is also a sign of this. There is a feeling among the party leaders and workers that Chandrababu is mostly busy with government affairs and is not able to devote time to the party.
There is an opinion that TDP lost the 2019 elections because of ignoring the party workers. It is said that Chandrababu, who said that he would definitely devote time to the party after coming to power again in 2024, is not able to show it in practice.
In the beginning, he used to meet with party leaders and activists every Saturday at the party office. Although this worked in the initial days, he is unable to allocate time later. The leaders feel that this will increase the distance between the party and him. With this, the demand to hand over the reins of the party to Lokesh is increasing.
Lokesh is already playing a decisive role both in the government and also in the party. Although Chandrababu is overseeing the party’s affairs, it is believed that if all the active affairs are handed over to Lokesh, the party will be stronger. Currently, Lokesh is holding the position of National General Secretary and is also in charge of the workers’ welfare fund.
Lokesh proposed six statutes in the name of `My Telugu Family’ in this Mahanadu. It was also resolved in the Mahanadu to give priority to these issues. Chandrababu to all leaders openly endorsed that the `Yuvagalam Padayatra’ conducted by Lokesh paved the way for the party to return power, making Lokesh as the natural choice of the party in succession.
