In what looks like an orchestrated campaign, similar to the one Congress leaders conducted for Rahul Gandhi some time back, the TDP ministers and senior leaders have intensified their pressure on chief minister Chandrababu Naidu to take his son Lokesh into cabinet.
The setting tone for the day Budda Venkanna, MLC from Krishna district, called on the CM with the request that he should take the party general secretary Lokesh into cabinet. He also conveyed his willingness to vacate his seat in the council to facilitate Nara Lokesh election to the Upper House.
Within hours, state Human Resources Development minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao expressed full solidarity with the leaders who are campaigning for Lokesh’s induction into cabinet. He was fully supporting the suggestion from the party’s rank and file, he said in Vizag. ” Lokesh is eminently qualified to become a minister. He is hopeful that Lokesh will scale many important heights in future. I am whole heartedly inviting Lokesh into the cabinet,” Ganta said. Talking about his qualifications, the minister said Lokesh had earned enormous experience as party general secretary, star campaigner and in the organization the welfare for the party workers.
Agriculture minister Prathipati Pullarao also joined chorus describing Lokesh as a leader with vision and Government was also in need of his services now
Taking the campaign a step ahead, BC welfare minister Kollu Ravindra, organized party BC cell meeting, where a resolution urging the party president Chandrababu Naidu to take Lokesh into cabinet had been adopted. ” In the development of the Telugu Desam party Chandrababu Naidu stood by party founder NT Ramarao. Similarly, Lokesh also should stand by his father,” Ravindra said. Ravindra is of the opinion that increased representation for youth would be good for the state and Lokesh presence in the cabinet is necessary as he represents youth of the state,” he told the BC cell meeting.
In the meantime, instructions have been reportedly issued to all party committees and leaders to express solidarity to the ” Lokesh as minister” campaign. In the next few day, party sources, said many more MLAs, will issues statements, urging the party president Chandrababu Naidu to induct Lokesh into cabinet. Similarly, party district committees and cells will adopt resolutions supporting the campaign.
