The Telugu Desam Party-led coalition government in Andhra Pradesh has entered the second year in June and so far, the bonhomie among the alliance partners – TDP, Jana Sena Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party – appears to be continuing at least at the higher level.
Of course, there are indications of discord among the alliance partners at the ground level in certain constituencies, due to influence and dominance of one party over the other. Yet so far, the situation has not come to the extent of deep fissures in the alliance.
There are reports that TDP general secretary and state IT minister Nara Lokesh is said to be building his own brand and political base, with speculation that he aims to position himself as the party’s chief ministerial candidate by the 2029 Assembly elections.
He has already gained considerable hold over the administration and sources said many officials are looking up to him for directions on many issues, of course on the directions of his father and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
What is baffling is the unusual silence of Jana Sena party president and deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan. Though he appears to be aggressive in public meetings, sources say he is yet to understand the nuances of administration.
More often than not, he is seen as any other minister in the Naidu cabinet, rather than establishing his position as the No. 2 in the government.
Against this backdrop, Praveen Pullata, chief Strategist of RISE Indian Political Research and Analysis, posted a message on social media that Lokesh has already formed his own core team and is overseeing multiple ministries.
He predicted that the next two years would be politically critical for Andhra Pradesh, with major changes expected. If Lokesh is projected as the next CM candidate, political analysts say it would effectively sideline Pawan Kalyan.
The key question is whether Pawan and his party cadre would accept such a move.
