When Nara Lokesh criticised Rahul Gandhi saying the Congress leader’s interview to a news channel would cost his party 20 Lok Sabha seats, people sat up and took notice. He may not be in the fray, but the TDP heir apparent seems to be pushing the electoral agenda of the party headed by father N Chandrababu Naidu. A critical look at the 31-year-old Stanford and Carnegie Mellon alumnus:
Strength
■ As son of Chandrababu Naidu, he has influence on party cadres.
■ As he is highly educated, his opinions are highly respected.
■ He could leverage the fact that his mother Bhuvaneswari is daughter of the late NTR senior and get recognition among the masses.
■ Enjoys appeal among the youth, being the youth wing in-charge.
■ Claims as his own the concept of the Centre’s Direct Benefit Scheme that transfers subsidies to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
weakness
■ Lacks the kind of assertive personality a leader needs. Under the protective wings of his father.
■ Though from a family having roots in film industry, he is not part of it. His cousin, NTR Jr—grandson of NTR Senior—is a competitor.
■ Chandrababu’s efforts to promote Lokesh had strained relations with NTR Jr’s father Harikrishna, NTR Sr’s son. NTR’s sons and daughters nurse a grudge that ‘outsider’ Naidu had hijacked the party founded by their father NTR.
Opportunity
■ As Lokesh is highly educated, he can always have an edge over his cousin NTR Jr who, after his intermediate, made entry into films.
■ As he is only 31, there is a lot of future ahead of him.
■ Has come a long way in being able to communicate with party men. Reacts on important issues and makes use of social media to be in touch with the world.
■ Has meetings with college students, trying to indoctrinate them with the TDP philosophy.
Threats
■ Has direct threat from NTR Jr who believes he is NTR Sr’s heir apparent.
■ As NTR Jr bears a striking resemblance to NTR Sr, Lokesh may not stand a chance if and when NTR Jr takes the plunge.
■ Unlike Lokesh, NTR Jr is a fluent and assertive speaker. He can cast a spell with his vehemence but Lokesh is a very poor speaker
■ Lokesh looks like a college student. If NTR Jr is hard to miss, it is hard to find Lokesh in a crowd.