VISAKHAPATNAM: Dressed smartly with ‘All Access’ tags around their necks, a group of youngsters were seen moving closely with TDP national general secretary and IT Minister Nara Lokesh, who was busy off the dais coordinating with various groups to ensure nothing is offline at the party’s mega event Mahanadu.
All of these youngsters -- sons and daughters of TDP Ministers, MLAs and senior leaders -- are being seen as the next generation of TDP leaders in the making. Lokesh had them assigned to different organising committees such as food, transport, hospitalisation, media, stage etc. Apart from doing their bit for the effective functioning of the groups, they also keep Lokesh constantly updated on what’s happening.
In an interaction with Express, a few of them shared their feelings about being a part of Mahandu and their future plans. “I have always been interested in politics and I am all for contesting next elections,” said K Greeshma Prasad, daughter of former Speaker and TDP leader K Prathibha Bharathi. She says many in her family, including her grandfather and mother, have been in politics. “My mother got a chance to join politics when NT Rama Rao garu asked her to join the party. This generation has to choose its own career and I choose politics,” she said.
K Malli Naidu, son of Minister for Energy K Kala Venkata Rao, who owns a hero motor showroom and will shortly be launching a chemical factory, says he is not averse to joining active politics. “Though this is the second time I am participating in Mahanadu, it is for the first time that I am actively associated with a committee. I take care of stage committee. There are 15 of us who have been assigned to different committees by Nara Lokesh. We report to him,” he said.
Asked if they considered themselves the next generation of TDP leaders, he says it was obvious. “Our fathers have taken the party forward for 36 years and in the coming years, we will take up the responsibility,” he said.
Bojjala Sudheer Reddy, son of former Minister and Srikalahasti MLA Bojjala Gopalakrishna Reddy is one of the 15 youngsters who were seen accompanying Lokesh everywhere. He said he was in politics for the past 15 years assisting his father. “When the time comes, I will take over his role,” he said with confidence.
Important resolutions on day two of Mahanadu