The loyalists of Nara family have revived their campaign “Lokesh as cabinet minister” amid the fresh speculation that chief minister Naidu is going to reshuffle the cabinet immediately after the budget session of Assembly. The talk has stemmed from the recent defection of a few strong leaders from YSR Congress to Telugu Desam party. According to TDP circles, Naidu wants to accommodate Nandyala MLA Bhuma Nagireddy and Jammalamadugu MLA C Adinarayana Reddy in the cabinet. In an attempt to appease Reddys, it is speculated in the party, Naidu is planning to take few more Reddys into cabinet. The other names of Reddys doing rounds are Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy(MLC) from Nellore district and Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, MLA from Prakasam district. They argue Bhuma Nagireddy and C Adinarayana Reddy quit the YSRC to join only after Naidu offered them cabinet berths.
If one goes by the media reports and whispers in the corridors of power, Naidu is planning to drop some ministers on the pretext that they services are required more for the organization. From Guntur, it is said, Dhulipala Narendra is a strong aspirant. Simiarly, Naidu wants to take a Boya candidate into the cabinet. As the poll assurance of categorizing the Boyas, who are not BCs, as ST is not possible in the near future, the sources say, Naidu may reward the community with a cabinet berth and government chief whip, Kalava Srinivasulu(Rayadurgam)) is most probable bet. Against this backdrop the name of Nara Lokehsh Babu surfaced again. Having realized that the ‘son’ failed to rise on the public horizon, as is evident from the GHMC election for which he was the star campaigner, they reason that cabinet berth is the only option for his rebirth in politics. Now, they want Lokesh Babu follow the model of KT Ramarao, son of Telangan CM K Chandrasekhar Rao. Ramarao has become real power centre by becoming a cabinet minister and after looking after most glamorous and wealthy departments IT and Municipal administration. And his father laid a path of roses for his son’s success in the politics. Nara family loyalists in the party prefer this to organizational path, which proved a herculean task. No doubt, Lokesh is number two in the party by virtue of being son of chief minister. Lokesh, however, is yet prove his mettle in the public sphere. A success in the public sphere is necessary for him to launch himself into electoral politics in 2019. Now, he addresses party workers mobilized in huge numbers by the party. His meetings are stage-managed during his visits. Long convoy of vehicles is kept ready for his tours. Party protocol is extended fully. He is given prominence in the party meetings. Now and then senior leaders, including ministers, wait for him at NTR Trust Bhavan. He conducted reviews with ministers in the interest of people and party supporters. Everything is made available to the heir apparent of Naidu. Some ministers are promoting him as the author of certain welfare schemes the government has launched in the past 21 months. But, still something is amiss. Something, which is more striking and arresting in his counterparts in other states, is absent in and around Lokesh. There is almost unanimity in the TDP circle that the son would definitely rise once he is made cabinet minister. Would Naidu allow this to happen because inducting Lokesh into cabinet may boomerang if it doesn’t contribute anything excepting creating a new school of sycophants in the party.
