After Telangana State, it looks like the turn of the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh to witness a “son rise” on its political horizon shortly!
Reports indicate that AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has made up his mind to induct his son Nara Lokesh in the cabinet as a prelude to taking the reins as his political heir like K.Taraka Ramarao in Telangana State. It is pertinent to note here that after the bifurcation of the united Andhra Pradesh in 2014, the two sibling Telugu States have been vying with each other in many aspects in developmental and welfare activities. Both the Chief Ministers — Chandrababu Naidu and K. Chandrasekhar Rao — have been indulging in one-upmanship in formulating and implementing populist schemes. As a matter of fact, KCR without bothering about the hush-hush criticism of practicing family rule, inducted his son KTR in his cabinet. What is more, he even entrusted responsibility to his son to oversee the prestigious elections to the GHMC.
KTR meticulously planned and tirelessly strove to ensure an unprecedented victory for his TRS party by capturing 99 out of 150 Divisions of the GHMC. After this stupendous performance of his party, the Chief Minister again entrusted the task of overseeing the municipal elections in Warangal and Khammam and also the by-elections to Narayankhed Assembly seat to KTR, who again ensured that the pink flag fluttered high in all the elections.
Buoyed with the success of the TRS in these elections, Chandrasekhar Rao immediately allocated the important portfolio of Municipal Administration to his son KTR and wanted him as in-charge of GHMC to make Hyderabad a world class city. Not to let down the aspirations of his father, KTR has been proving his mettle to not only turn Hyderabad into a world class smart city, but also an IT hub by succeeding in luring foreign investments and companies. There is no denial of the fact that KTR with his political vision and acumen has emerged as the second-in-command of the ruling TRS in Telangana.
All these developments have not escaped the hawk eyes of neighbouring Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. Though there were demands from TDP leaders to induct Nara Lokesh in the cabinet, he wanted to ward off any criticism that he was pursuing a dynastic rule. Hence, in a clever move he entrusted his son Lokesh with more responsibilities with regard to party affairs by making him General Secretary. In that position, Lokesh undoubtedly became a power centre in TDP.
Chandrababu Naidu is also facing the heat from his detractors, especially from YSRCP president and Leader of the Opposition Y S. Jaganmohan Reddy. Also now the Power Star and founder of Jana Sena Pawan Kalyan has also become a thorn in his flesh. It is a well known that Chandrababu Naidu won the 2014 elections with the support of BJP and Pawan Kalyan. As a matter of fact, Jaganmohan Reddy had missed the bus in becoming the CM of AP due to the TDP-BJP alliance and support of Pawan Kalyan.
However, the issue of special category status to Andhra Pradesh has become a major political issue of late. On one side, Jaganmohan Reddy has been firing with all cylinders Chandrababu Naidu on this issue. To add to his head-ache Chandrababbu Naidu now also finds Pawan Kalyan targeting him on the special category status. What is more, the film actor seems to be trying to exploit the issue for his own plans to enter into the election fray in 2019. There is also a talk in political circles that there is a possibility of Jaganmohan Reddy and Pawan Kalyan joining hands to take on Chandrababu Naidu in the 2019 elections.
Thus taking all these factors into consideration, Chandrababu Naidu seemed to be now seriously considering to rope in the services of his son in a more responsible manner by inducting Lokesh in his cabinet, especially keeping in view the 2019 elections in the State. Chandrababu Naidu’s plans seem to be to entrust the responsibility of developing Amaravathi, the would be capital of AP, on the lines of Hyderabad, if not in a much bigger way. Thus, he is likely to create a special cabinet post for the development of Amaravathi and entrust it to Lokesh. Will Lokesh be inducted in the AP ministry before or during the budget session is a question. The TDP members are eagerly awaiting an answer to this million dollar question. (NSS)