An announcement posted by Telugu Desam Party general secretary and Andhra Pradesh information technology minister Nara Lokesh on Thursday morning on his social media platform X that he would make a BIG REVEAL at 12 noon evoked some curiosity among the netizens.
“When governance reforms speak louder than slogans, recognition follows. A highly respected award. A formidable jury. Which award is this? Guess who won? BIG REVEAL at 12 noon...” the tweet said.
The tweet was also flashed on the television channels and digital media, generating a talk as to what the award would be.
Obviously, everybody thought it could be some award to the Telugu Desam Party-government – like Skoch Awards which are given annually to the best governments.
And there was also no doubt that the award would have gone to either Lokesh or his father – chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
Nobody has any doubts that Lokesh would not make such announcements if the award is given to deputy CM Pawan Kalyan or some other cabinet colleague.
Finally, when Lokesh made the Big Reveal at 12 noon, it evoked no surprise.
It was about Naidu being conferred the prestigious “Business Reformer of the Year” award by The Economic Times, India’s leading business publication, in recognition of his far-reaching economic reforms, investor-friendly governance, and transformational leadership.
The jury, which Lokesh was talking about, comprised some of India’s most eminent business leaders, including Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises; Sajjan Jindal, Chairman and Managing Director of JSW Group; and i Noel Tata, Chairman of Tata Trusts.
The announcement was no surprise because ET has already carried the report on its front page in the morning itself; and there was no need for Lokesh to make it a suspense till 12 noon.
Secondly, all the jury members are the biggest beneficiaries of Naidu’s industrial policy, having got prime lands at throwaway prices.
Of course, many of Lokesh’s followers congratulated him and his father on X. Some of them even said Lokesh, too, deserved this award for bringing several top IT companies like TCS, Google and Cognizant to Andhra Pradesh.
There were several memes too, making fun of Lokesh’s announcement. There were certain sarcastic comments too. “Any scams doing in this government?” asked one netizen.
While one follower asked: “Job calender anna?” another one commented: “Ee article payment kosam pass chesina GO soon baitaki vachestadi ani hope chestunnam (We are hoping the GO granting payment to this article will come out soon).”
“How much did this cost bro? Just checking to gift this to my uncle, thanks for your reply,” was the other sarcastic query by one more netizen.
