It looks like Telugu Desam Party general secretary and Andhra Pradesh information technology and education minister Nara Lokesh has improved himself a lot over the last one decade as a leader as well as a responsible minister.
In his earlier stint as a minister in the Chandrababu Naidu cabinet, Lokesh was looking immature with little ability to counter the opposition – YSR Congress party headed by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, between 2014 and 2019.
He was often referred to as “Pappu” by the opposition members, whenever he stood in the assembly and council as a minister.
He was fumbling in giving replies to the queries raised by the members and he was hardly speaking to media, due to lack of confidence.
But his stint in the opposition between 2019 and 2014 made him a strong and matured politician.
His Yuva Galam padayatra gave him a lot of confidence and he also gained a lot of command over his subjects.
Now, it appears he has mastered the art of speaking in public eloquently and replying to the queries at the national media conclaves effectively without any fumbling and countering the opposition with all force.
It was evident from the way Lokesh tackled senior YSRCP members like Botsa Satyanarayana, who were trying to attack him and the Naidu government on fee reimbursement scheme and Thalliki Vandanam schemes.
When the YSRCP insisted on debating its adjournment motion despite the Chairman’s rejection, Lokesh seized the moment to challenge the opposition, declaring that the government was prepared to answer any questions.
In a sharp counter, he accused the previous YSRCP government of leaving behind Rs 4,000 crore in pending arrears, ridiculing their demand for a debate on dues they themselves failed to clear.
While counter-attacking Botsa Satyanarayana, Lokesh also displayed a lot of maturity in giving due respect to the leader of opposition in the council.
He said he would respect Botsa for his age and seniority; but at the same time, he said he would have to place the records straight.
He holding Botsa directly responsible for keeping arrears unpaid during his tenure. The pointed attack signalled a new political maturity in Lokesh, who, a decade ago, was often dismissed by critics as inexperienced.
Lokesh also fended off YSRCP criticism on welfare schemes by turning the spotlight on the coalition government’s “Thalliki Vandanam” programme.
In a firm reply, he highlighted that unlike the YSRCP’s selective approach under Amma Vodi, the new scheme guarantees Rs 15,000 for every child without exclusions.
Even when the Chairman pressed him on whether sanitation workers, ASHA and Anganwadi staff were covered under the scheme, Lokesh responded with confidence, reading out the relevant government orders and clarifying that pending requests were under active review.
