Lokesh Is Double Cautious This Time

Nothing can be predicted in politics. People’s blessings and election mood play a crucial role in deciding the victory of candidates.

Nobody will keep losing every time. TDP scion Nara Lokesh is banking on the same formula.

In 2019, he made his political debut from Mangalagiri and the party cadre believed that he would win the polls at any cost. They felt that it would be a cakewalk for Lokesh given his father Nara Chandrababu Naidu gaining recognition as a high-profile leader at that time. Further, Amaravati was chosen as the capital and Mangalagiri is proximal to the capital city. Lokesh was also identified as a young leader. However, all these calculations went for a toss and Lokesh’s rival Alla Ramakrishna Reddy emerged victorious.

At that time, there was a triangular fight between the TDP, YSRC and Jana Sena. The Jana Sena had an alliance with the Communists and Muppalla Nageswara Rao contested from the constituency which led to splitting of votes.

Lokesh was defeated with a difference of 5,333 votes. This led to Alla’s consecutive victory.

Now, Lokesh is again getting ready for the polls. Though defeated from Mangalagiri last time, Lokesh has decided to show his valour by contesting from the same place again. He is working hard to woo the voters by implementing some welfare programmes of the TDP. This led to talk that though Lokesh had lost from Mangalagiri, his image among the public is intact.

As Mangalagiri is known to be dominated by weavers, Lokesh is helping many of them giving them cash aid. This apart, the TDP also gave push carts to the street vendors.

Lokesh’s wife Nara Brahmani is also taking an active part in campaigning and meeting the voters, urging them to vote for her husband.

Now, let us look at Lokesh’s strengths.

He gained sympathy of the voters following his Yuvagalam padayatra, defeat in the last elections, solidarity with the protesting Amaravati farmers. He also reopened the Anna Canteen in Mangalagiri and is encouraging the youth to set up their own businesses.

At the same time, he also has shortcomings. Lokesh is not a native of Mangalagiri. There is a strong argument that Lokesh is not able to woo the weavers, a majority of whom belong to the BC community.

Despite these calculations, Lokesh and his supporters have pinned high hopes on victory from the constituency.