In an obvious bid to consolidate his hold over the Telugu Desam Party and clear the way for his anointment of the heir apparent of his father and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, party general secretary and state IT minister Nara Lokesh has launched a new political initiative.
Starting Thursday, Lokesh is hosting dinner meetings with party MLAs and their families.
Though the party says the meetings are aimed at strengthening coordination within the party and government, the main purpose, according to sources, is to consolidate his position in the party.
The party leaders say Lokesh will meet seven MLAs from each parliamentary constituency every day for dinner along with their family members.
“The initiative is intended to provide a platform for direct interaction, enabling Lokesh to understand constituency-level issues firsthand and work towards solutions,” a party leader said.
Party sources say the meetings will allow MLAs to discuss local challenges, development priorities, and public concerns directly with Lokesh.
The inclusion of family members is also seen as an attempt to build personal rapport and foster goodwill toward the party leadership.
While party leaders maintain that the programme is aimed at improving governance and strengthening coordination between the party and the government, political analysts view it as a strategic move by Lokesh to consolidate his position within the TDP.
They believe the initiative could help him build stronger support among legislators and prepare the ground for a more prominent leadership role in the future, including potential aspirations for the chief minister’s post.
Observers suggest that beyond administrative discussions, the meetings are part of a broader political strategy to enhance internal cohesion, address dissatisfaction within the party, and unify leaders under a common leadership.
Strengthening personal relationships with MLAs and their families is also seen as a way to ensure smoother leadership transition and reinforce Lokesh’s influence within the party.