When the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was in opposition in Andhra Pradesh between 2019 and 2024, party general secretary and current IT Minister Nara Lokesh frequently brandished his "Red Book."
He claimed it contained the names of officials and then-ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders who, according to him, were harassing TDP members and indulging in corrupt practices.
Lokesh often warned that once the TDP returned to power, strict action would be taken against those listed in the Red Book.
True to his word, soon after the TDP-led coalition came to power, the government began initiating action against several individuals, one after another.
Cases have been filed against various YSRCP leaders, some of whom have been jailed, while police officials accused of harassing TDP workers have been suspended.
The YSRCP has strongly criticized the government, accusing it of enforcing what they term the "Red Book Constitution" instead of the Indian Constitution, and of using it as a tool to target political opponents and instill fear among the public.
Surprisingly, Lokesh appears to still carry the Red Book and is allegedly adding the names of YSRCP leaders who criticize the government on social media and other platforms.
In a public meeting on Wednesday, Lokesh openly admitted this. He issued a direct warning to YSRCP leaders, stating that those who oppose his initiatives will be added to the Red Book.
He specifically cautioned YSRCP members against obstructing a proposed gas plant project in Prakasam district.
"If you step in the way, your name will end up in the Red Book," he warned, adding that stringent action would follow.
Lokesh further alleged that the previous YSRCP government obstructed several major industrial investments in the state.
He cited shelved or blocked plans for an automobile hub in the erstwhile Anantapur district, electronics companies in Chittoor and Kadapa, a renewable energy firm in Kurnool, and a paper mill in Prakasam district.
Criticizing the YSRCP’s five-year rule, Lokesh claimed it had caused widespread damage to the state's economy and reputation.
He alleged that instead of attracting new businesses, the government had driven away companies like Lulu, Amara Raja, HSBC, and Jockey.
“I challenged the Pulivendula MLA — let him name even a single company that was brought into the state under his leadership. But there’s been no response,” Lokesh asserted.
In response, the YSRCP alleged that Lokesh’s remarks amounted to a direct threat and raised serious concerns about political intimidation and the misuse of power in the state.
