Nara Lokesh Sworn in as National Working President of TDP

Amaravati, April 29: Nara Lokesh, a member of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and a minister in the Andhra Pradesh government, took the oath as the party’s first National Working President on Wednesday.

The oath-taking ceremony was held at the party headquarters in Mangalagiri, where TDP’s National President and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu administered the oath to the new executive members.

Chief Minister Naidu also swore in members of the party’s Politburo, along with national and state-level committees. These new committees were announced on April 15. Notably, this marks the first time in TDP’s 44-year history that a leader has been appointed as the National Working President.

At 43, Nara Lokesh has previously managed significant departments such as Human Resource Development, Information Technology, and Electronics. He has long been viewed as Chief Minister Naidu’s political successor, and this appointment clearly signals his intent to carry forward the legacy of the 76-year-old Naidu.

This promotion comes at a time when the TDP, under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), secured a significant majority in the state nearly two years ago. Given Lokesh’s crucial role in the party’s electoral success, this appointment is seen as a well-deserved reward.

The new executive features a balanced mix of experienced leaders and fresh faces. The party has prioritized activists who have actively contributed to its efforts, staying true to its slogan, “Cadre is the Leader.” For the first time, leaders from the mandal and cluster levels have also been included in the Politburo.

Mangalagiri cluster in-charge Guthikonda Dhanunjaya and Gantyada mandal party president Gantyada Sridevi have also secured positions in the Politburo. Meanwhile, senior leaders Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and Gorantla Buchayya Chaudhary have retained their significant responsibilities, which they have held since the times of N.T. Rama Rao (NTR) and Chief Minister Naidu.

Additionally, Naidu’s brother-in-law and actor-politician N. Balakrishna has been retained as a member of the Politburo. Balakrishna is the son of the late NTR and the father-in-law of Nara Lokesh.

The party has also included activists who play an active role on social media in the committees. Before the oath-taking, Chief Minister Naidu, Nara Lokesh, and other leaders paid tribute to the party’s founding president, NTR.

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