TDP national secretary Nara Lokesh, who is primed to take the reigns of the party leadership from his father and former Chief Minister Nara Chandra Babu Naidu in the coming years, is firm on entering the assembly of Andhra Pradesh this time as a representative of Mangalagiri constituency, a place where he faced a humiliating defeat against the YSRCP’s contestant Alla Ramakrishna Reddy.
After losing the 2019 election from Mangalagiri, which was never a stronghold for the TDP since its formation, Nara Lokesh could have opted for a new constituency with strong cadre support and vote share to improve his chances of winning. Instead, he has been resolute in turning the tables this time at any cost. Over the last five years, Lokesh has been keeping in touch with the people of Mangalagiri. He undertook various welfare activities and also questioned the inefficiencies of the ruling dispensation.
Besides driving the party with his ideologies by playing second fiddle to his father, Lokesh maintained a thorough rapport with his cadre and the voters of Mangalagiri. He frequently made visits to the constituency and fought with the government on several issues. This brought him closer to the people and also improved his graph quite exponentially.
Meanwhile, YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is trying his best to scuttle Lokesh’s ambitions. However, he seems to be clueless in his attempts. Following the internal survey reports and feedback from his sources, Jagan felt that it going to be a canter for the TDP in 2024 if Alla Ramakrishna Reddy is pitted against Lokesh in Mangalagiri. Hence, he gave the responsibilities of the constituency to BC leader Ganji Chiranjeevi, who was once with the TDP and contested unsuccessfully in 2014 and later shifted his loyalties to the YSRCP.
As soon as Ganji Chiranjeevi was announced as the coordinator for the constituency, the incumbent MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy resigned to the party and joined the Congress. He was deeply hurt because the party’s high command gave the in-charge duties to his 2014 opponent. However, he returned to the fold again a few days back as Sharmila didn’t assure him of any ticket in the Congress party.
Owing to ARK’s pressure, Jagan now nominated another BC leader Murugudu Lavanaya, daughter-in-law of MLC Murugudu Hanumanth Rao. This development came as a huge shock to Ganji Chiranjeevi and his supporters. They are planning to work against the party in the upcoming assembly elections.
YS Jagan’s clueless strategies are likely to help Lokesh further in achieving his ambition this time. As of now, the prospects of Nara Lokesh winning Mangalagiri look very strong.