Will Lokesh Be Different From Jagan?

TDP leader and former minister Nara Lokesh’s Yuva Galam is underway, interacting with the people and trying to make an impact through his speeches. The pictures from his walkathon remind one of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Odarpu Yatra when he kissed old people on their cheek or forehead caressing their faces in his hands.

There are many similarities in the way both the leaders are interacting with the public, except for the fact that Jagan undertook the padayatra for his own self and appealed to the people to give ‘one chance’ while Lokesh is urging the voters to give power to his father and TDP supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu.

However, after being voted to power, Jagan distanced himself from the public and had been trying to avoid meeting them as many of his anti-people policies drew criticism, while a few of his ministers even faced public wrath.

Farmers of the capital region slammed Jagan for trying to avoid having eye contact with them since they launched an agitation protesting against the trifurcation of the people, which they alleged is a ploy to make Amaravati redundant. The farmers parted with thousands of acres of their farmlands for building the capital and are worried their sacrifice would go a waste.

Now, there are doubts if Lokesh would tread the same path of Jagan. Will Lokesh also forget the public conveniently after he achieves his goal, wondered political observers.

It would be better if political leaders do not lose the connect with the public and serve the people honestly. People’s representatives should remember that they entered politics to address people’s problems and grievances. They should try to be accountable and responsible to the people rather than work with vested interests, said political analysts.

The TDP scion should try to stand apart from other politicians in the state by trying to show his commitment to the people and even the future generations, they suggested.