Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu’s cabinet has the stamp of Nara Lokesh, his son. Called Chinababu by his family and fans, Mr Nara Lokesh played a key role in choosing the cabinet and making arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony on Sunday, an indication that he will be projected as the TDP’s chief ministerial candidate in 2019.
A top party functionary said, “More than Mr Naidu’s key men Sujana Choudary and C.M. Ramesh, it was Mr Naidu and Mr Lokesh who decided the cabinet's composition.” Mr Lokesh has been working hard to get a hold over the party and played an important role during the recent general elections, both in campaigning and in strategy discussions. He was the brain behind the social media campaign launched by the TD to get in the youth vote. Mr Lokesh is likely to be made party general secretary soon and will be more involved in party affairs, sources said.
Active in politics since 2008, he monitored the arrangements of the swearing-in ceremony at all levels. He was very critical of YSR Congress chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who refused to attend the swearing-in. Mr Reddy also criticised Mr Naidu for spending crores of money on it.
Mr Lokesh defended the decision to make it a grand affair, stating that the party wants to grab international and national attention in order to build up the truncated state and to attract investments. “Mr Lokesh is our leader. His role was extraordinary during the recent elections. He has got all the potential to take up the mantle in future,” said TD leader from Krishna district, Y. Rajendra Prasad.
