The stage is set for anointing Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s son, Nara Lokesh, as his political heir-apparent.
The three-day ‘Mahanadu’, the ruling Telugu Desam Party’s annual conclave, which began in Kadapa town today, is expected to pass a resolution appointing Lokesh (41), a Stanford-educated businessman-turned-politician and a minister in his father’s cabinet, as the party’s working president—signalling a generational transfer of leadership.
At present, he is the TDP general secretary. Lokesh has been groomed for some time by his doting father to take over the mantle of the party founded in 1982 by Naidu’s father-in-law and matinee idol of Telugu cinema, the late N T Rama Rao.
The TDP conclave is expected to witness organisational changes to bring in new faces to energise the party. The idea behind Lokesh’s proposed elevation is to allow Chandrababu Naidu to focus fully on governance matters. Moreover, Naidu has turned 75 and is keen to hand over the party’s baton to his son.
It is no secret that Lokesh is being groomed to take over the reins of the regional party from his septuagenarian father.
TDP leaders and cadres are increasingly pushing for Lokesh’s promotion, citing his leadership role in the party’s successful membership drive, which saw over one crore new members join.
‘Mahanadu’ is expected to authorise the delegation of significant powers and responsibilities to Lokesh, including near-total supervision of the party.
As Chandrababu Naidu must liaise with the Centre to secure funds for implementing his dream projects, Lokesh is expected to share party responsibilities.
The elevation of Lokesh as the working president draws immediate comparisons with the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana, whose working president, K T Rama Rao, is the son of former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
The BRS is now in opposition, as Telangana is ruled by the Congress.
Another likely change during ‘Mahanadu’ would be the induction of younger faces into the party, particularly into the state committee and politburo.
“While seniors will continue in important positions, mostly in advisory roles, Lokesh wants to prepare a young brigade of leaders by the next elections,” party sources said, adding that Lokesh is expected to chart the party’s roadmap for the coming years.
The three-day conclave is set to deliberate on six guiding principles drawn up by Lokesh for the advancement of both the party and the government.
These principles include prioritising party workers, promoting the global Telugu community, empowering women, ensuring social justice for deserving sections, serving the poor, and supporting farmers.
Backroom strategist
Ever since his quiet entry into party politics in 2013, Lokesh has largely worked as a backroom strategist, contributing to party policies and programmes. He was made coordinator of the TDP Workers’ Welfare Fund and later became a formal party member at the TDP’s ‘Mahanadu’ in 2013.
Two years later, he was appointed general secretary—marking the first clear indication of the succession plan in the regional party. Lokesh was largely seen as an organisational figure with limited public speaking skills.
He was inducted into the cabinet in 2017, taking the Legislative Council route. He contested his first election in 2019 from the Mangalagiri Assembly constituency but lost to YSR Congress Party candidate Alla Ramakrishna Reddy by a significant margin.
However, in the 2024 elections, he won the seat and became a minister.
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