Nara Lokesh, General Secretary of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and son of Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister-elect Chandrababu Naidu, has expressed his party’s unwavering support for the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Speaking at an interview with PTI at Chandrababu Naidu’s residence in Undavalli, Lokesh emphasized that the TDP joined the NDA unconditionally before the recent Lok Sabha elections and will continue to support the alliance unconditionally.
VIDEO | "Telugu Desam Party has been clear from day 1, it represents the interest of Telugu people and we don't know caste, creed and religion. We stand only for Telugu people. We believe that the Telugu state should be a strong state. We have developed our state as per that… pic.twitter.com/g78XiAQ7ww
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 7, 2024
Lokesh shed light on the importance of a symbiotic relationship between the state and the central government. While the TDP supports Modi as Prime Minister without reservations, Lokesh pointed out that future investment opportunities might require a “give-and-take” approach. He stressed the need for Andhra Pradesh to receive support from the central government for various projects and initiatives.
Investment and Development Opportunities
He also mentioned that if there are opportunities for investment, the TDP would advocate for Andhra Pradesh to receive those investments, expecting the central government to push for the state’s interests.
Lokesh believes that such a cooperative relationship is essential for representing the interests of all states, not just Andhra Pradesh.
Lokesh acknowledged that there would be numerous issues that would need negotiation with the central government. He listed several topics such as the Agniveer scheme, Uniform Civil Code, reservations, budget allocations, and overall development.
VIDEO | "Agniveer scheme, Uniform Civil Code, reservations, allocation of budgets, development and PLIs – there are hundred other things that we all need to discuss. We believe in the leadership of Narendra Modi ji and there's no second thought about it. We believe that he should… pic.twitter.com/McJ2jOP3ku
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 7, 2024
These issues, he said, would require detailed discussions and negotiations across the table to ensure mutual benefits.
Addressing questions about reservations for the Muslim community, Lokesh clarified that the TDP does not discriminate based on caste, creed, or religion. He emphasized that the party represents the interests of the Telugu people and aims to build a strong Telugu state without any bias.
Capital and Decentralized Development
Lokesh reiterated the TDP’s commitment to the concept of ‘one state, one capital,’ affirming Amaravati as the capital city of Andhra Pradesh. However, he also highlighted the importance of decentralized development to ensure balanced growth across the state.
In the recent Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections, the TDP secured a decisive victory by winning 135 seats, with Chandrababu Naidu set to become the new chief minister. The NDA alliance also saw success in the Andhra Pradesh Lok Sabha elections, with the TDP winning 16 out of 25 seats and the BJP winning 3 seats.
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All over, Lokesh’s statements reflect the TDP’s strategic approach to maintaining a strong relationship with the central government while advocating for the development and interests of Andhra Pradesh.
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