Nara Lokesh, the 42-year-old son of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N. Chandrababu Naidu, will officially be named the Working President of the TDP. The demand came to the fore during the party’s three-day Mahanadu conclave in Kadapa.
This appointment, if announced, marks a significant generational shift within the party, cementing Lokesh’s growing influence and positioning him as the heir apparent to lead the TDP into the future.
Lokesh played key role in TDP’s resounding victory in the 2024 Andhra Pradesh Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, where the TDP-led NDA alliance secured 164 of 175 Assembly seats and 21 of 25 Lok Sabha seats with a vote share exceeding 53%.
Lokesh, credited as a key architect of this triumph, has emerged as a formidable leader, shedding earlier perceptions of inexperience through his strategic acumen and grassroots engagement.
His 226-day, 3,132-km Yuva Galam padayatra, covering 100 Assembly constituencies, was instrumental in reconnecting the TDP with the masses, particularly the youth, and countering the YSRCP’s dominance.
The padayatra, launched in January 2023, showcased Lokesh’s ability to engage directly with citizens, earning him widespread respect. His leadership during the 2023 crisis, when Naidu was arrested by the YSRCP government, further solidified his stature as he rallied support across Andhra Pradesh and New Delhi to secure his father’s release.
At Mahanadu, Lokesh unveiled a six-pillar vision for the TDP, emphasizing global recognition for the Telugu community, women’s empowerment through the Stree Shakti program, youth development under Yuva Galam, social justice, farmer support, and cadre empowerment. This forward-looking agenda aims to strengthen the party’s organizational structure and ensure long-term electoral success.
While Chandrababu Naidu remains the TDP’s National President, Lokesh’s new role as Working President will allow him to focus on party affairs, complementing Naidu’s governance responsibilities. The move has sparked speculation about Lokesh’s future as a potential Chief Minister, with party sources indicating this as a strategic step toward leadership transition.