INDUCTIONS ABOUT LOKESH IN AP CABINET

             It may be mentioned here that speculations were rife in the TDP circles that Chandrababu Naidu was keen to see that his son Lokesh Naidu was inducted as Minister in the Narendra Modi cabinet at the Centre. For this he wanted Lokesh to enter the Rajya Sabha by fielding him in the ensuing biennial elections in place of the present member Y.S. Choudhary, who is now a Union minister.

             However Chandrababu Naidu seemed to have had second thoughts about dislodging his confidant Y.S. Choudhary, popularly known as Sujana Choudhary, for the sake of his son as this might send wrong signals besides antagonizing some powerful sections. Hence, he dropped the idea of sending Lokesh to Rajya Sabha.

Meanwhile, there were speculations that Chandrababu Naidu might go in for major cabinet reshuffle and induct some new faces besides showing the door to some deadwood and controversial members in his council of ministers. There were reports circulating that Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy, who was a member in the TDP Government during the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh, would be one of those being considered for induction. However, some sections in the TDP began to pressurize the CM for inducting Lokesh into the cabinet.

Chandrababu Naidu was placed in a piquant situation as he was also keen on taking his son in his cabinet and at the same time he was against denying a berth to Somireddy Chandramohan



Reddy. Thus even as Naidu was trying to wriggle out of this ticklish situation, the endorsement of

Somireddy for inducting Lokesh into the AP cabinet attained importance.

While interacting with the media at Nellore, Somireddy pointed out that ever since Lokesh started taking keen interest in party affairs, there was a newfound zeal and enthusiasm among the people, especially among the youth. The State needs the services of Nara Lokesh in a bigger way and for this it is imperative to induct him in the cabinet, Somireddy said.

The TDP MLC also lashed out at YSRCP president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy for launching a tirade against Naidu with regard to Polavaram and Pattiseema irrigation projects. While the Chief Minister received accolades for these projects all over the country and even Telangana CM KCR had appreciated it, only Jaganmohan Reddy was speaking ill about it and trying to create hurdles in the development of irrigation projects, he observed.

Meanwhile, AP Deputy Chief Minister K E Krishnamoorthy claimed that four more YSRCP legislators were ready to join the TDP at any time. He was speaking to the media at Kurnool when this disclosure was made. He said the TDP had come to power in the State with the backing and support of the BCs and the TDP Government was committed for the welfare of these sections.

The AP Home Minister China Rajappa reiterated that the TDP Government would deal with a iron hand to check the activities of the sand mafia and red sanders smugglers. Speaking to the media at Srikakulam, he said efforts are on to streamline the police department in the State.