Lokesh assumes bigger role in party - TeluguPeople.com News

Hyderabad : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu appointed his son Nara Lokesh as coordinator of the TDP workers' welfare fund activities.

The decision of the party president, thus, paved the way for his son's direct and active role in party affairs for the first time. During its annual conclave last month, the TDP president had announced setting up of the fund with a corpus of Rs 20 crore to take care of the welfare of needy party workers.

In fact, the fund was the brainchild of Lokesh, who during his maiden speech at the conclave, mooted the idea to extend financial support to the party's flag bearers for their educational, healthcare and other emergency needs.

Supporting his son's idea, Chandrababu had immediately announced setting up of the fund with a corpus of Rs 20 crore. The interest which accrues on the corpus amount would be utilized for the welfare of TDP workers, Chandrababu had said. As announced here today, Lokesh has now been appointed as coordinator to work out modalities for operating the fund.

'Our president has asked Lokesh to co-ordinate with senior TDP leaders and activists to work out modalities and operational guidelines for the fund. Based on this, an action plan will be drawn to utilise the fund,' TDP programmes committee chairman V V Chowdary said in a statement.

This is the first direct role which Lokesh would play in the TDP, though for the past few years he had been co-ordinating its affairs from the backroom and drawing up key strategies, supporting his father.

Reacting on the issue, Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh K E Krishnamurthy hailed his appointment and said that Lokesh had great future in politics.

He also added that Lokesh's active role in politics would help in strengthening of the party and boost the morale of the party cadre especially young leaders.

Interestingly, buoyed at the appointment of Lokesh, TDP Leader from Gudur assembly constituency, Konda Lakshmi Narayana made a contribution of Rs.1lakh towards the TDP Workers Welfare Fund.

He handed over a cheque of Rs.1 lakh to Lokesh on the very first day of the announcement of his appointment. Lokesh appreciated Narayana for his contribution towards the welfare fund.

It is learnt that the party president Naidu has directed the party leaders to set up a separate office for his son at party headquarters NTR Trust Bhavan.

Following the directions of the party president, the party leaders have prepared plans to allocate office space for Lokesh on the second floor of the party office.

Plans are already underway to deck up Lokesh's office and accord a grand welcome for the young leader into the party headquarters in the next couple of days.

The TDP President Naidu also focused his entire attention on strengthening the party during his initial days in the TDP instead of involving himself in state government affairs.