Telugu Desam Party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s arrest in connection with Rs 371 crore skill development corporation scam is certainly a big setback for the TDP ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in the state.
But it has its own positives, if the party leaders take it that way. It has given an opportunity for Naidu’s son and TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh to emerge as a strong leader and display his abilities to lead the party in his father’s absence.
According to a political analyst, the arrest could turn out to be a beginning of Naidu’s downfall, as the Jagan government is planning to bring out one case after the other to see that he doesn’t come out of the jail.
On Monday, the CID filed yet another petition in the court seeking to prosecute Naidu in the Amaravati Inner Ring Road scam. If it gets the court consent, then the TDP chief will have to languish in jail for a few more days, if not months.
If Jagan can ensure that Naidu is kept in jail for three or four months, the party would get demoralised as it would become rudderless and all its programmes would go haywire.
So, this is the time Lokesh steps into Naidu’s shows.
“All these days, he has been walking under the shadow of his father and basking in the glory of his grandfather N T Rama Rao. Now, if Naidu continues to remain in jail on one pretext or the other, Lokesh will have to lead the party from the front,” the analyst said.
Hitherto, Lokesh has been supplementing his father’s efforts by taking up a padayatra, which has not been a big hit. But now, he should focus on the party activities and show a new direction to the party leaders.
On Monday, Lokesh appeared bold and strong in his comments at the press conference held at Rajahmundry. He made it clear that he would continue his fight and dared the Jagan government to register any number of cases against him.
"I am now in Rajamahendravaram and anyone who wants to take me into custody can come and arrest me," Lokesh said.