Will the ‘son’ rise at TDP Mahanadu?

Express News Service
Last Updated : 24 May 2011 10:24:51 AM IST

HYDERABAD: The “son-rise” in the Telugu Desam seems imminent with a chorus building up in the party ahead of the Mahanadu demanding that Nara Lokesh Naidu be entrusted with an important assignment in the party.

According to the grapevine, Lokesh, the only son of party chief Chandrababu Naidu, will contest the state Assembly from the Chandragiri constituency at the next election. Currently, he is looking after the business of Heritage Foods, the family’s concern.

Not surprisingly, no senior leader has raised his voice against the demand for his baptism in politics. They have also not dismissed the speculation that Lokesh will be the party’s candidate from Chandragiri in the next general election.

The Chandragiri Assembly constituency unit of the party has adopted a resolution urging the party president to assign some important task to Lokesh. It suggested that the heir-apparent be drafted into Telugu Yuvatha, the party’s youth wing, or made in-charge of the Chandragiri constituency unit of the party. Rumours are doing the rounds in party circles that the Chittoor district party unit too will adopt a resolution seeking Lokesh’s entry into active politics.

Incidentally, the TDP has no in-charge for the Chandragiri segment unit. Former MLA and Naidu’s brother Ramamurthy Naidu is no longer active in politics. There is also discontent among TDP leaders over the functioning of the Chittoor unit of the party. There are also apprehensions of the YSR Congress storming Kuppam, Naidu’s native constituency. With his father being busy in the state and national politics, Lokesh is expected to strengthen the party in the district.

As of now, Lokesh is not a member of the party. For that matter, Balakrishna and NTR Jr too are not members of the party though they serve as the star campaigners for the party.

Asked about Chandragiri party activists’ demand for Lokesh’s entry into active politics, MLA and Naidu loyalist A Revanth Reddy told Express that every party should respect the wishes of the people. Lokesh’s entry should not, however, be construed as a succession war in the party, he hastened to add. “TDP chief Naidu is physically fit and is the only able leader to run the party. The successor issue comes before the party only after 15 years,” Revanth Reddy clarified. Speaking on a personal note, Revanth said, he would welcome Lokesh’s entry into politics. Whenever asked about his son’s entry into politics, Naidu evaded a direct reply and said that Lokesh was busy with his business activities. Lokesh, an MBA graduate from Stanford University, was actively involved in the electioneering in 2009 elections. He was the poll manager for his father in Kuppam. He stood by his father when the latter undertook an eight-day fast to demand a better deal to farmers. Lokesh too was arrested along with his father, and was mildly injured in the melee took place during the arrests.
In the succession battle for control of the party reins Harikrishna, son of party founder NT Rama Rao, propped up his son and popular film hero NTR Jr recently but was adroitly checkmated by Naidu who proved once again that he is the unquestioned leader of the party.