Andhra Pradesh minister for information technology and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) general secretary Nara Lokesh celebrated his birthday on Friday amid widespread greetings from party leaders and allies.
Adding to the political buzz was a birthday greeting from actor Jr NTR, who wished Lokesh another wonderful year.
“Many happy returns of the day @naralokesh! Wishing you another incredible year ahead!” was the post of NTR on X.
The wish has taken the TDP cadres by a pleasant surprise, given the long-standing speculation about Jr NTR’s role in TDP politics and perceived rivalry between fan bases following the 2009 elections.
By wishing Lokesh “another incredible year ahead,” Jr NTR sent a message that he has acknowledged the emergence of Lokesh as a powerful force in the TDP and the government in the last one year.
Obviously, he admitted indirectly that Lokesh is the heir apparent of chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
Several party insiders believe that a convergence between Lokesh and Jr NTR could significantly strengthen the TDP, while others continue to debate leadership dynamics within the party.
Meanwhile, deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan also extended greetings, praising Lokesh’s initiatives in education reforms, school infrastructure development, and efforts to attract IT investments to improve youth employment opportunities.
