All Eyes on Nara Lokesh as TDP’s Mahanadu Begins in Kadapa: Will He Be Named Working President?
Kadapa Hosts Historic TDP Mahanadu as Leadership Transition Speculation Grows
Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh – As the Telugu Desam Party’s three-day Mahanadu convention kicks off on Tuesday, all eyes are on Nara Lokesh, son of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and a rising star within the party. Held for the first time in the YSR stronghold of Kadapa, this year's convention could mark a pivotal leadership transition, with strong buzz in party circles about Lokesh’s likely elevation as Working President or Executive President.
Although no official confirmation has been issued, party insiders say the announcement could come during the finale of Mahanadu — a symbolic moment, being the first such convention after the TDP-led NDA’s landslide victory in the 2024 Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections.
“Both titles — Working President and Executive President — are under discussion. The inclination is toward the first,” a senior TDP leader told TheTrendingPeople.com.
A Formal Step for TDP’s De Facto No. 2
Lokesh currently serves as TDP’s National General Secretary, a post he has held for three consecutive terms. In recent years, he has assumed increasing responsibilities, especially with Naidu entrusting him with party management across regions.
“He’s already functioning as the de facto Working President,” said one politburo member. “The real question is: when does Naidu formally pass the torch?”
While some senior leaders raised concerns about the lack of formal discussion within the TDP politburo, others countered that a politburo nod isn’t mandatory, and that Naidu may well make the announcement himself.
Past Push for Deputy CM Role Sparked Friction with Allies
Earlier this year, several voices within the TDP demanded that Lokesh be appointed as second Deputy Chief Minister, a move that sparked tensions with coalition partner Jana Sena Party, whose chief Pawan Kalyan already holds the Deputy CM post. The BJP, the third partner in the alliance, chose to remain silent on the matter.
Although the demand eventually died down, the episode signaled the growing ambition within TDP ranks to see Lokesh assume a more prominent leadership role.
Modi’s Endorsement of Lokesh: A Game-Changing Moment
Adding to the speculation around his political rise, Lokesh recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on 17 May. Accompanied by his wife Brahmani and son Devansh, Lokesh reportedly dined with the PM at his official residence.
Sources say the meeting followed a lighthearted remark by Modi during the Amaravati capital project re-inauguration on 2 May, where he joked about Lokesh not visiting him in Delhi.
During the meeting, Modi also unveiled the first copy of Yuvagalam, a coffee-table book documenting Lokesh’s 3,132-km padayatra across Andhra Pradesh — an effort credited by TDP as a key contributor to the party’s massive comeback in 2024.
“The Prime Minister unveiling the book and presenting it to Lokesh is being seen within the party as a major gesture of approval and encouragement,” said a TDP insider.
From Defeat in 2019 to Victory in 2024: Lokesh’s Political Rebound
Lokesh, a Stanford MBA, entered active politics in 2014 and served as a Member of Legislative Council (MLC) from 2017 to 2023. His first attempt at a direct election came in 2019 from Mangalagiri, where he was defeated in a wave led by Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSRCP.
In 2024, however, he staged a strong comeback from the same constituency, securing a seat in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. He currently holds key portfolios in his father’s cabinet, including:
- Human Resources Development
- IT, Electronics & Communication
- Real Time Governance
Mahanadu in Kadapa: A Message to Jagan Mohan Reddy
For the first time in its history, TDP is holding its annual Mahanadu convention in Kadapa, the heart of the YSR family bastion. The region, traditionally loyal to Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and his son Jagan, has seen a political shift.
While YSRCP retained the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat, and Pulivendula and Badvel assembly constituencies, the TDP-led alliance captured five of the eight assembly segments in the district in 2024 — a significant turnaround.
“Holding Mahanadu here is a symbolic move — it’s a direct challenge to Jagan, saying we’ve entered his territory and are ready to dethrone him even in his backyard,” said a senior TDP leader, quoting a popular dialogue by actor-MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna, who is also Lokesh’s father-in-law.
Lokesh: A Political Heir in the Making
As Naidu embarks on his fourth term as Chief Minister, the path is seemingly being laid for Lokesh to take on a larger leadership role within the TDP. Whether it comes with a formal title at Mahanadu or later this year, the signals are clear:
- Modi’s endorsement,
- Padayatra success,
- Electoral victory,
- And now, rising calls from within the party.
Lokesh’s evolution from a technocrat-in-politics to a mass leader is nearing a key inflection point.
Conclusion: A Moment of Transition and Assertion
As the TDP’s top brass gathers in Kadapa for the 2025 Mahanadu, the party is poised to send out two strong messages:
- A generational shift is underway, with Lokesh ready to assume the future mantle.
- The TDP is ready to challenge Jagan Mohan Reddy even in his stronghold.
Whether or not the official announcement is made this week, the political wind inside TDP clearly favors Lokesh’s rise — and Mahanadu 2025 may well be remembered as the moment that began a new era in Andhra politics.