Lokesh Aims to Make Mangalagiri First in All Sectors

Vijayawada:Education minister and Mangalagiri MLA Nara Lokesh has said his goal is to make Mangalagiri as the number-one region in all sectors of human development and sought the help of officials to achieve the target.

Lokesh hosted an interaction-cum-dinner for officials of the Mangalagiri Tadepalli municipal corporation and revenue staff and their family members at his residence “in appreciation of their efforts in distributing permanent house-site pattas to poor families” in the constituency.

He thanked the officials on behalf of the people of Mangalagiri and presented them a new set of clothes.

Recalling his political journey from Mangalagiri, Lokesh said he had neither been born nor brought up in the constituency. He made it his own only in 2019. He had entered the constituency 21 days before the election and lost the polls by 5,300 votes.

“Many leaders told me that I could win if I promised house pattas. But I refused to make a promise without making a study of the subject. If I make a promise, it is my habit to fulfill it,” he said.

Lokesh said he spent the next five years travelling with the people and understanding their problems firsthand. Granting permanent land rights to families living on government land for decades emerged as one of the major demands. “I promised to provide permanent house-site pattas to the needy in the 2024 election, following which people elected me with a 91,000-vote majority,” he noted.

Lokesh said around 6,000 families had benefited from the distribution carried out in two phases after officials completed the enumeration process. He described the exercise as “historic” and attributed its success to teamwork.

Several public representatives had asked him how the pattas were distributed, he said, adding that he had invited them to visit Mangalagiri and see the process for themselves.

The minister said several development works were under way, including parks, Kalyana mandapams, community centres, modernisation of Anganwadi centres and initiatives under PM Surya Ghar. Underground drainage works had commenced and drinking water pipeline works were being taken up. A model Rythu Bazaar had also recently been launched.

“History can be created only through a team effort, not by one individual,” Lokesh said, expressing hope that officials would continue to extend their cooperation.