Speculation Mounts Over Nara Lokesh's Rise As TDP Gears Up For Grand Mahanadu

TDP's Mahanadu holds added significance since it's the first since the party's resounding return to power in 2024 Andhra Pradesh elections.

As Telugu Desam Party (TDP) prepares for its highly anticipated Mahanadu convention in Kadapa from May 27 to 29, all eyes are on Nara Lokesh, with mounting speculation that he may be named the party’s Working President. This year’s Mahanadu holds added significance—it's the first since TDP’s resounding return to power in the 2024 Andhra Pradesh elections, and it marks a new phase for the party under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. The annual convention, traditionally held in memory of party founder NT Rama Rao, was not held last year due to electoral commitments.

TDP state president Palla Srinivas Rao has constituted 19 committees comprising senior leaders and legislators to ensure the success of the event, reported Times of India. 

A Leadership Transition In The Making?

Amid the preparations, a growing chorus within the party is calling for Lokesh’s elevation. The demand to appoint him as Working President has gained momentum, particularly among the younger cadre and leaders who see Lokesh as the face of the party's next generation, reported Times of India.

Currently serving as TDP General Secretary and IT Minister in his father’s cabinet, Lokesh has increasingly emerged as a key decision-maker within the party. Although earlier calls to appoint him as Deputy Chief Minister were turned down by Naidu—partly to preserve the political balance with alliance partner Jana Sena Party and its leader Pawan Kalyan—the momentum now appears to be shifting in Lokesh’s favour.

Lokesh’s Political Evolution

Lokesh's political credibility was significantly boosted by his ‘Yuva Galam’ padayatra, a 226-day-long foot march that covered over 3,100 kilometers across 100 Assembly constituencies in 11 districts, as per Sakshi Post. Launched from Kuppam in Chittoor district on January 27, 2023, the campaign was seen as instrumental in reviving TDP's grassroots connect and countering the dominant narrative of the YSRCP under YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Once criticised as politically inexperienced, Lokesh now enjoys considerable respect within the party and beyond. Many observers credit his tireless efforts and field engagement for TDP’s turnaround in 2024, marking a generational shift in the party’s dynamics.