IT minister Nara Lokesh appears to be not sure of his victory from Mangalagiri Assembly seat in upcoming Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections.
This is because Lokesh is still hanging on to his MLC post.
TDP chief and AP CM N Chandrababu Naidu has imposed a rule for MLCs in the party to quit from their MLC posts if they want to contest Assembly polls.
TDP leaders Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy, Ramasubba Reddy had to resign to their MLC posts to contest Assembly polls.
Both the leaders have decided to quit MLC seats as they were confident of getting elected as MLAs.
Strangely, Lokesh still continues to retain MLC post even after his candidature was announced for Mangalagiri seat.
This has become a subject of hot debate in TDP.
Few party leaders and cadre in their internal discussions claim that Chandrababu and Lokesh are not sure of Lokesh winning Mangalagiri seat and to continue Lokesh as MLC even if TDP loses power, this decision was taken.
Naidu feels that it would be better if Lokesh hangs on to his MLC post because there is no guarantee that he would win Mangalagiri Assembly seat going by the tough fight put up by YSRCP against Lokesh.
Few TDP leaders say this has been sending a 'wrong message' to not only TDP leaders and cadre but also to Opposition parties that TDP is not sure of retaining power and Naidu asked Lokesh to stick to his MLC post on a 'safer side'. This to ensure that Lokesh will at least remain as a legislator as an MLC, if not as an MLA.
Naidu fears that if Lokesh resigns as MLC and also faces defeat in MLA elections, he will become 'na ghar kaa. na ghaat ka'.