Minister Nara Lokesh took official charge today and signed on documents. He put his first signature on a file that will benefit thirty lakh families under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). With this signature labors who have worked for fifty days under NREGA will henceforth be considered as Construction workers, thus becoming eligible for benefits. His second signature was on the file to have Panchayat Raj department undertake waste management in all villages across Andhra Pradesh. Finally, his third signature was on integrating LED Lighting in villages.
Fortunately, Lokesh did not make any promises before becoming minister. So, his first signature may not be discussed widely unlike his father’s. Nara Chandrababu Naidu affixed his first signature on crop loan waiver file as chief minister of Andhra Pradesh in June 2014. On the same day, the new chief minister of AP post bifurcation of the state, also declared writing off loans of self-help groups in the state. In all, Naidu signed on five files on that day at auspicious time. The after math of these signatures is well known to everyone.
Lokesh has been facing criticism for not competing as MLA but joining the cabinet as MLC. This is the possibly the best move by the father and son duo. Like any other day, Opposition cannot complain about the assurances made by him during election campaigning. The TDP National general secretary made no promises to be inducted a cabinet minister. He was given responsibility by his father who in fact questioned NTR for declaring Balakrishna as his heritor. YSR couldn’t make Jagan a minister but Chandrababu could and that too seamlessly. Lokesh has to build his network, which being the CM’s son he already has it to an extent. Union Ministers including Suresh Prabhu and Nirmal Sitaraman took time to congratulate the IT minister. None of the ten other cabinet ministers who were sworn in managed to get such laudatory messages or attention. Subsequently, all he needs to do is strength his relationships, so that someday his son can become CM impeccably.
