There have been indications that Nara Lokesh may be appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, in an apparent effort to elevate his stature to match that of Pawan Kalyan.
Leaders of the TDP are emphasizing this move, with Somireddy Chandra Mohan Reddy also endorsing the idea initially proposed by another Politburo member, R. Srinivasulu Reddy.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders are reportedly appealing for a BJP leader to also be made a Deputy CM, given that the government is an alliance involving three parties.
If this happens, the spotlight on Pawan Kalyan as Deputy CM could be diluted, potentially undermining his influence within the coalition.
In light of these developments, some members of the Janasena Party are demanding that Pawan Kalyan be made the Chief Minister if Nara Lokesh is elevated to Deputy CM.
They argue that it was Pawan Kalyan's efforts that brought the BJP into the alliance and secured victories for Kutami candidates in the 2024 elections.
There is speculation that Chandrababu Naidu plans to make Nara Lokesh the Chief Minister by 2026, ahead of the 2027 general and Jamili elections.
However, this creates a power dynamic: if Lokesh's influence grows, Pawan Kalyan’s may diminish, and vice versa—a political tug-of-war that remains unresolved.
Some are comparing the political scenario in Andhra Pradesh to Baahubali and Bhallaladeva politics, with Chandrababu Naidu being likened to Bijjaladeva and the central BJP taking the role of Shivagami.
