Politics

 Missing Spark: Is Lokesh Padayatra successful? What has TDP gained from it?

7 months ago
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lokesh padayatra

TDP National General Secretary Nara Lokesh concluded his padayatra, ultimately covering a distance of 3132 kilometers instead of the initially planned 4000 kilometers. Lokesh had set out with the intention of surpassing Chief Minister YS Jagan’s padayatra record of 3648 kilometers, but he decided to conclude his journey after 226 days, having covered over 3000 kilometers. When Jagan was the opposition leader, he commenced his padayatra from Kadapa in Rayalaseema and concluded it in Ichapuram in North Andhra. Lokesh also adhered to a similar route, initiating his padayatra from Kuppam with the goal of ending it in Ichapuram. However, he opted to conclude his journey at Polipalli, Vizianagaram. Now, let’s delve into what Lokesh’s ‘Yuvagalam’ padayatra contributed to TDP gaining momentum in the state.

Has Lokesh’s Padayatra Gained Momentum for the Party?

Nara Lokesh has transformed his physique for the padayatra, shedding weight and adopting a leaner profile. Despite being characterized as politically immature and labeled as “pappu,” Lokesh has strategically planned to overcome these challenges and establish himself as a mature political leader through this padayatra. While the padayatra has enhanced his political image compared to his previous standing, he still does not appear to have fully matured as a politician.

For any politician, a padayatra is a last resort for gaining political mileage. Previously, leaders such as YS Rajasekhar Reddy, Chandrababu Naidu, and YS Jagan have successfully utilized it to seize power. However, in Lokesh’s case, his padayatra has not generated the same mass momentum. Instead, it has given the impression of being a forced endeavor. Even the TDP cadre has not shown enthusiasm in participating in the padayatra with high spirits.

Lokesh failed to deliver a resounding speech

Lokesh, who has struggled with communication skills, underwent training with Telugu poet and writer Peddi Ramarao in the past. While there has been some improvement compared to his previous speeches, it falls short of expectations. Throughout the Yuvagalam Padayatra, Lokesh was unable to deliver a speech that would resonate throughout the entire state. Some argue that, aside from the TDP’s digital promotions, Lokesh’s padayatra has not effectively reached the masses. It is noteworthy that, outside of TDP-favoring media channels, there has been little discussion about Lokesh’s padayatra among the common public. Perhaps recognizing this, Naidu and the party organized a bus yatra under the banner of ‘Bhavishyathuku Guarantee,’ accompanied by some election promises.

Not a significant boost…

For the concluding meeting of Yuvagalam Padayatra, a large number of the public attended, raising the question of whether this public support will translate into backing for Lokesh’s leadership in the upcoming elections. At the age of 73, Chandrababu Naidu’s active political life may be nearing its end, yet he continues to exert effort to revive the party. With no apparent second-tier leadership in the party following Naidu, the TDP is grappling with a struggle to regain momentum in Andhra Pradesh.

Nara Lokesh has, unfortunately, failed to instill confidence in the party through his Yuvagalam Padayatra. For both him and the party, the padayatra seems more like a routine program rather than a significant challenge to the ruling party.

War declared… but is the padayatra enough?

When Chandrababu Naidu was jailed in an alleged skill-development scam, Nara Lokesh halted his padayatra and spent days in Delhi. This raised the crucial question of whether Lokesh could resume his padayatra. After a 79-day dilemma, Lokesh finally restarted his padayatra, but it concluded at Polipally, Vizianagaram, instead of Ichapuram in Srikakulam. Although Lokesh named his padayatra “Yuvagalam,” it lacked a clear focus on youth-centric issues, leaving the justification for the title unclear.

Also Read: Elections 2024 : A fight between Jagan’s arrogance and people self respect says Lokesh

TDP declared an election war against Jagan from Polipally and expressed confidence in winning the 2024 election. However, one may argue that this padayatra alone may not be sufficient to challenge YS Jagan in the upcoming elections. If TDP succeeds in capturing power, they may credit Lokesh’s padayatra; otherwise, it might be deemed a flop show. At the very least, Lokesh should secure a victory in the Mangalagiri seat; otherwise, it would be a significant setback for him, indicating a lack of substantial achievements from the padayatra.

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