CM Naidu Sends Son Lokesh to Take on Jagan in His Lair

This is meant as a coming-of-age mission for the TDP gen-sec. This is his chance to prove that he has the political mojo to step into his father's shoes one day.

TDP central committee general secretary Nara Lokesh being welcomed by women wing activists during the inauguration of TDP state office in Vijayawada on Wednesday | Express Photo by P Ravindra Babu

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's son has tasked his son Lokesh with the job of dismantling the YSR Congress in Kadapa, the home district of the leader of the opposition, Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Having failed in his political mission in the recent elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, the young scion, who is the Telugu Desam Party's general secretary, is in need of something to crow about. His dad thinks this is Lokesh's big chance to come into his own.

Chandrababu Naidu 1 Jagan 0: Andhra Pradesh CM Plans to Trigger Exodus from YSRC

Sources said during the two-day visit the young politico will confer with local TDP leaders on how to destroy the YSR Congress' virtual monopoly in the district.

The ruling TDP has just two MLAs in the district, including the latest defector Adinarayana Reddy. The remaining eight Assembly segments are held by YSRC.

Towards achieving this goal, Lokesh has decided to persuade second-rung leaders of YSRC in all Assembly segments to walk to the TDP.

"Lokesh is of the view that if he can successfully lure away second-rung leaders and workers now, he can force Jagan party's legislators to shift their loyalties to the ruling party," a close aide of Naidu's son told Express.

As a step towards this, Naidu's heir apparent will focus his attention on the Kadapa Muncipal Corporation and the Kadapa Zilla Parishad, which are at present held by Jagan Reddy's party.

Out of 50 corporators in the Kadapa Municipal Corporation, 42 are from the YSRC, Lokesh is said to be confident that he can woo a majority of them away. 

Providing an impetus to Lokesh's effort, Kadapa deputy mayor Butcher Arifullah today said he has decided to join the TDP tomorrow.

"Despite being a deputy mayor, I am unable to get even small development work sanctioned in the corporation that has a majority of YSRC corporators. Hence, I have decided to quit the YSRC to join the TDP. Many more YSRC corporators are going to follow me in the coming days," he stated.

Lokesh's next mission is to weaken Jagan's party in districts such as Kurnool and Prakasam, where the ruling party has minimal presence.