Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu seems to be treading carefully when it comes to officially declaring his son, TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh, as his heir apparent in the party and in power.
Despite Lokesh already serving as the de facto No. 2 in the party, Naidu has refrained from making any public statements or commitments about whether Lokesh will be his political successor.
This delicate topic was reportedly raised by Naidu's brother-in-law, senior actor Nandamuri Balakrishna, during an episode of his reality show “NBK Unstoppable Season-4” on the "Aha" OTT platform.
The episode, which features Naidu, was shot on Sunday and is set to be aired on October 25, with a promo expected soon.
During the show, Balakrishna is said to have directly asked Naidu about who will succeed him as the party leader in the coming years.
“What do you think about Lokesh, and what are his plans for the future?” Balakrishna reportedly asked.
Naidu responded by downplaying the notion of an official successor.
"There’s no such thing as a designated political heir for the party. Every leader must prove their worth, from the grassroots level to the top. The party won’t wait for someone to take over the presidency," Naidu reportedly said.
However, Naidu did praise Lokesh’s efforts within the party, noting that he has worked hard to rise through the ranks.
"He has proven himself as a leader, and everyone has seen his growth," Naidu said, hinting that Lokesh could potentially lead the party in the future.
Naidu also acknowledged the contributions of other party leaders, saying that many have worked tirelessly to restore the party’s standing.
He highlighted the role of the Nandamuri and Nara families during challenging times, adding that even women from the Nandamuri family stepped forward to defend the party during its crises.
