Jagan Targeting Nara Lokesh’s Political Future?

In his maiden election, Chandrababu Naidu’s son, Nara Lokesh has lost. He lost to his nearest rival from YSR Congress, Alla Rama Krishna Reddy by a margin of 5000 Plus Votes. This is a huge setback for Chandrababu Naidu who is keen on promoting his son as his heir.

Lokesh entered Naidu’s Cabinet via Council and the Opposition ridiculed him for that. Call it confidence or misadventure, Lokesh chose Mangalagiri to contest in his debut election. TDP last won this seat in 1985 which means almost three decades back. In 2014 elections, TDP candidate, Ganji Chiranjeevi lost this election by just 12 Votes.

Finally, that choice proved to be costly. Even after the election, Lokesh announced that he will stick to Mangalagiri and is working in the constituency by meeting the local leaders and cadre every now and then. Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy seems to have targeted Lokesh’s Political Future.

In the first budget of the new government, Jagan earmarked 50 Crore to make Mangalagiri as a Model Town. This seems to be a move to corner Lokesh and curb his political growth in the constituency. Interestingly, the government has only earmarked 500 Crore for Amaravati which will be just to pay an annuity to farmers and monthly pension to agriculture laborers.