The Telugu Desam Party’s youth leader, Lokesh, embarked on a Padayatra that began with uncertain steps but has now transformed into a surge of enthusiasm over the course of 200 days. When Lokesh began this journey on January 27th, no one could have anticipated that it would culminate in a continuous 200-day walk.
The Lokesh Padayatra, initially named Yuvagalam, commenced in Kuppam of Chittoor district and reached the remarkable milestone of 200 days on Thursday, surpassing this milestone in the Polavaram constituency of the joint West Godavari district.
What’s notable is that Lokesh has maintained this Yatra without pause or rest, even while nursing injuries sustained from fan collisions, and despite shoulder discomfort. Over the course of this journey, he has covered a distance of 2,710 km, traversing through 77 assembly constituencies, spanning 185 mandals/municipalities, and visiting 1,675 villages. His daily average walk spans around 13.5 km, and he even achieved a remarkable feat of walking 22 kilometers in a single day.
Within these 200 days, Lokesh has addressed a total of 64 public meetings, participated in 132 face-to-face interactions, attended 8 Rachabanda meetings, and engaged in 10 special events. He has received over 4 thousand petitions and interacted individually with many more people who shared their concerns.
The reception during the march through Vijayawada city was remarkable, with people waiting on the roads until 3:30 in the morning to see him, prompting Lokesh to halt his walk and meet them.
Lokesh’s star image is evidenced by the multitude of people who eagerly line up to take pictures with him every morning. He obliges by taking selfies with anyone who approaches him for a “Selfie with Lokesh.”
TDP sources indicate that he takes around 2 thousand selfies daily, and in one instance, 2,500 people took photos with him in a single location in Nellore district. Altogether, around 3 lakh people have taken selfies with him thus far.
Comparatively, the Padayatra has significantly boosted the confidence of TDP members in Lokesh. His pledges to repay with interest once in power, his vehement protests against the oppressive actions of ruling party leaders, and his assurance to the party activists have resonated effectively.
The response to the Padayatra indicates that Lokesh’s image has notably elevated, especially among the youth and women.The impact of Lokesh’s Yuvagalam was evident in the Graduate MLC elections held in March. During this time, Lokesh was conducting a marathon in the Rayalaseema region. TDP secured victories in all three graduate MLCs, including West Rayalaseema—a positive signal for the party.
The TDP also managed to secure wins in local body bye-elections conducted in the same month. The YSRCP is feeling the pressure from Lokesh’s Yuvagalam. Ultimately, this has contributed to strengthening the TDP and positioning Lokesh as a leader within the state.
