Lokesh Fuels TDP Revival with Youth and Roads

April 1, 2025 — Nara Lokesh, Telugu Desam’s national general secretary and Andhra Pradesh’s education and IT minister, unveiled a bold plan to rejuvenate the party by empowering young leaders during a meeting in Atchutapuram, Yelamanchili constituency, on March 31, 2025. Addressing local leaders, Lokesh proposed capping leadership tenures at three terms to make way for fresh faces, a move aimed at shaking up the party’s old guard. He also pushed for village-level presidents to join the politburo, ensuring grassroots voices shape TD’s future—a nod to the party’s roots under N T Rama Rao. Lokesh’s vision comes at a pivotal moment for TD, which, despite its 164-seat landslide in the 2024 elections, faces the challenge of sustaining momentum in a rapidly changing political landscape.

Beyond party reforms, Lokesh emphasized action over rhetoric, announcing door-to-door campaigns starting in June to spotlight the NDA coalition’s wins—like pensions, Anna Canteens, and the Steel City project. He urged members to counter misinformation with facts, a call to arms for a party often battered by rival narratives. Training programs for 300 members will kick off daily in May, focusing on resolving local issues at the village, mandal, and constituency levels, while Lokesh stressed legal, patient engagement with the public. The upcoming Mahanadu in Kadapa will elect TD’s national president and form a new state committee, setting the stage for a restructured party ready to tackle Andhra’s challenges head-on.

Lokesh didn’t stop at words—he laid the foundation for a Rs 347 crore road expansion project to transform the 14-km Anakapalle-Atchutapuram stretch into a four-lane corridor, funded by the Asian Development Bank. Set to finish in two years, the road, complete with a flyover at Atchutapuram Junction, two minor bridges, and 47 culverts, will boost connectivity near the Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor and Andhra Pradesh Special Economic Zone. It’s a lifeline for industrial hubs, fishing villages, and over 100,000 employees at ArcelorMittal’s Rs 1.4 lakh-crore steel plant in Nakkapalli, promising to slash traffic woes in the region.

This dual focus—youth-driven party reforms and tangible infrastructure—shows Lokesh’s intent to blend long-term vision with immediate impact. Legislative Assembly Speaker Chintakayala Ayyannapatrudu and TD state president Palla Srinivasa Rao joined him at the ceremony, a sign of party unity. Lokesh’s Yuvagalam Padayatra, where he first heard local concerns, directly inspired the road project, proving his ear is to the ground. As TD gears up for its next chapter, this blend of fresh leadership and development could pave the way for a stronger, more connected Andhra Pradesh.