Telugu Desam sees Nara Lokesh rising

Hyderabad: After successfully promoting his son Nara Lokesh in party circles, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is these days dropping the name of his son, Nara Lokesh, with increasing frequency in official circles.

Mr Naidu mentions Mr Lokesh’s name during review meetings with officials on the functioning of various departments almost on a daily basis, regulars at the meetings say. Review meetings on Aadhaar seeding and finalisation of farmers’ lists for the crop loan waiver scheme are being frequently held, and progress by the related departments is slow. It is here that Mr Lokesh‘s name pops up.

A senior official said Mr Naidu makes it a point to tell the meeting: “My son Lokesh enrolled 50 lakh members in just one week. He has also computerised all the names without a single mistake. Why can’t the officials do the same when the government has huge machinery, right from Secretariat to the village-level at its disposal.”

The TD’s manifesto for the 2009 Assembly elections promised the implementation of the money transfer scheme. Mr Naidu had made it a point to mention in several party meetings and some public meetings that the scheme was the brainchild of Mr Lokesh. 

In the Mahanadu following the TD’s return to power, Mr Naidu had announced the creation of the Party Workers Welfare Fund and made Mr Lokesh its head. The responsibility of enrolling new members for the party too was entrusted to Mr Lokesh. The success — over 50 lakh new members joined the TD — left Mr Naidu going gaga over his son’s efforts. Sources said the stage is set for Mr Lokesh to be elevated as the TD’s general secretary in the coming Mahanadu.