A new twist is given to the raging campaign launched by some ardent supporters chief minister Chandrababu Naidu to take his son Lokesh Naidu into cabinet. Twist is provided by reference to NT Ramarao.
Hours after party MLC and senior spokesperson Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy openly welcomed the idea of Lokesh as cabinet minister, two leaders Budda Venkanna, MLC, and P R Mohan, chairman, sports authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) invoked the name of NT Ramarao. Budda Venkanna, an MLC elected from the local bodies constituency of Krishna district, said Lokesh should enter the cabinet through Legislative Council as MLC as the district is the native district of party founder NT Ramarao. He said he was ready to vacate the seat to facilitate Lokesh Election to the Upper House.
PR Mohan, an ardent follower of NT Ramarao, raised a new debate in the party by stating that while taking Naidu’s son Lokesh into cabinet, the party should also think of NT Ramarao’s son Balakrishna.
Nandamuri Balakrishna, son of NTR, represents Hindupur Assembly constituency in Anantpur district. To put the record straight, Mohan wants Balaiah to be taken into cabinet along with Lokesh.
Late last night PR Mohan released a statement stating that Balakrishna was also equally eligible to become a cabinet minister. While welcoming the demand from party workers that Lokesh should be taken into cabinet Ramesh released the statement to request the party not to ignore the hero-turned politician Balaiah.
” As a representative of Hindupur, Balakrishna, has been working relentlessly for the welfare of the people of his constituency. He never feels it below his dignity to go to a minister to seek more funds for the constituency. He has been the star campaigner for the party in many elections. He earned kudos from all sections in maintaining the Basava Tarakam cancer hospital extremely well. These activities make him eminently eligible for the post of minister,” Mohan said in the letter.
In the same breath the SAAP chairman, said it would be a matter of great rejoice for TDP workers if Nara Lokesh was inducted into either state cabinet or central council of ministers. Mohan praised the efforts of young leader in setting up of the party workers’ welfare fund, and enrolling party membership to record levels of more than 50 lakh. He said Lokesh struggled a lot and came a long way to become the general secretary of the party and it was not a single-day affair.
Having served the party for seven years, Lokesh would naturally be in the fore front if the party wants to induct the youth into cabinet,” he said. The letter clearly appears like a caution to party president Chandrababu Naidu and other sidekicks of Lokesh that they should not forget of NTR’s son while promoting Naidu’s son. Incidentally, Balakrishan is father-in-law of Lokesh Naidu. Still NTR lineage seems important for many of his admirers.
