The elevation of Nara Lokesh Naidu, son of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to the key post of national general secretary in the newly constituted Central Committee of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is said to be an attempt to make him an effective rival to the YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.
Party sources said Chandrababu Naidu is planning to groom Lokesh into No. 2 in the party and project him as the Chief Ministerial candidate in the next elections.
It is a long-term strategy as Naidu would be nearing 70 years by next elections and might not have the same energy and enthusiasm to take on Jaganmohan Reddy.
So, he feels Lokesh would be the best bet to lead the party in the next elections, while Naidu would take to the national politics.
That is precisely why Naidu also included Lokesh into the politburo, the most influential and decision making body of the TDP, so that he would be involved in the decision making.
“Three and a half years would be more than sufficient for Lokesh to gain a grasp over the politics,” sources said.
But the question is whether Lokesh would be able to match up to Jagan’s popularity and image in the public. Let us see how far this will become possible.
