Nara Lokesh

Nara Lokesh, born on January 23, 1983, is an influential Indian politician from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). As the son of Nara Chandrababu Naidu, former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Lokesh has played a significant role in Andhra Pradesh’s political landscape. Educated at Carnegie Mellon University and Stanford University, he entered active politics in 2014, becoming TDP’s General Secretary and later a Member of the Legislative Council. Despite an initial electoral setback in 2019, where he lost the Mangalagiri Assembly constituency, Lokesh made a strong comeback in the 2024 elections, winning the seat with a significant majority. As a minister, he spearheaded initiatives in digital governance and rural development, earning accolades such as the Skoch Person of the Year and Digital Leader of the Year. His contributions include a successful party membership drive and the Yuva Galam Padayatra, addressing youth issues in Andhra Pradesh. Lokesh continues to be a prominent figure in state politics, shaping policies and governance under the TDP banner.

Family Background:
Nara Lokesh hails from a prominent political family in Andhra Pradesh. He is the son of Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and chief of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and Nara Bhuvaneswari. Lokesh is married to Brahmani Nandamuri, the daughter of actor and politician Nandamuri Balakrishna. The couple has a son named Devansh Nara.

Education:
Lokesh holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a specialization in Management Information Systems from Carnegie Mellon University, USA, and an MBA from the prestigious Stanford University Graduate School of Business, USA.

Political Party:
Telugu Desam Party (TDP)

Political Career:

Early Career and Rise in TDP:
Lokesh’s foray into politics was marked by his active involvement in the Telugu Desam Party. In 2014, he was appointed as the General Secretary of the TDP and became a member of the party’s Politburo, the highest decision-making body. He played a crucial role in managing party affairs, interacting with party workers, and formulating party policies and strategies. In January 2013, Lokesh asserted that the Direct Benefit Transfer System, championed by Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party, was originally a TDP proposal submitted to the central government.

Elected Positions and Ministerial Roles:
In 2017, Lokesh was elected as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC). Despite not having contested a direct election initially, he was appointed as a cabinet minister in his father N. Chandrababu Naidu’s government, overseeing portfolios such as Information Technology, Panchayati Raj, and Rural Development. His tenure saw significant initiatives in digital governance and rural development.

2019 and 2024 Assembly Elections:
Lokesh faced severe criticism for not contesting elections and securing a ministerial position through an MLC post. Responding to this criticism, he contested the 2019 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections from the Mangalagiri constituency but narrowly lost to Alla Ramakrishna Reddy of the YSR Congress Party by a margin of 5,337 votes. This election was a major setback for both Lokesh and his father, as the TDP suffered its worst defeat, securing only 23 out of 175 seats.

However, in the 2024 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections, Lokesh made a remarkable comeback by winning the Mangalagiri seat with a majority of 91,413 votes, the third highest in the assembly elections. This victory marked a significant turnaround for the TDP in Mangalagiri, a constituency they had not won for 39 years. Post-elections, Lokesh was inducted into the cabinet led by N. Chandrababu Naidu, taking charge of Human Resources Development, Information Technology, Electronics and Communication, and Real-Time Governance.

Key Contributions and Initiatives:

Digital Governance and IT Development:
As the IT Minister, Lokesh spearheaded the Digital Andhra Pradesh initiative, aiming to transform the state into an IT hub. His tenure was marked by the introduction of innovative technologies to enhance governance and transparency, earning him the Skoch Person of the Year award in 2018.

Rural Development:
Lokesh’s role as the Minister for Panchayati Raj and Rural Development saw several initiatives to improve rural infrastructure and living conditions. He focused on providing clean drinking water, better sanitation, and infrastructure development in rural areas. His efforts were recognized with an innovation award by the Kalam Centre for Livable Planet Earth and Sustainable Development in 2018.

Party Membership Drive:
Lokesh is credited with successfully managing the TDP’s membership drive, which saw the addition of over five million members. The drive was notable for its use of digital technology, including tablets, live data feeds, and a real-time dashboard, setting a benchmark for political party membership management in India.

Padayatra:
In January 2023, Lokesh embarked on the Yuva Galam Padayatra, a 400-day journey covering 4,000 kms from Kuppam to Ichchapuram. The padayatra aimed to address issues concerning the youth of Andhra Pradesh and was a significant political mobilization effort.

Personal Life:
Lokesh married Nandamuri Brahmani in 2007. Brahmani is his first cousin and the elder daughter of Nandamuri Balakrishna. The couple has a son, Nara Devaansh.

Awards and Recognitions:
Lokesh’s contributions to governance and technology integration have been widely recognized. He received the Skoch Person of the Year award in 2018 for his innovative use of technology in governance. Business World magazine named him Digital Leader of the Year at the Businessworld Digital India summit in New Delhi in the same year. Additionally, Lokesh was invited to represent India at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Entrepreneurship Summit and was nominated to the WEF’s Network of Global Future Councils.

Conclusion:
Nara Lokesh’s political journey has been a blend of significant achievements and challenges. His contributions to digital governance and rural development have been noteworthy, and his recent electoral success marks a new chapter in his political career. As a key figure in the Telugu Desam Party, Lokesh continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of Andhra Pradesh.