Is Nara Lokesh the “Super CM” of Andhra Pradesh?
After the coalition government came to power in Andhra Pradesh, there has been ongoing talk among alliance leaders that the entire influence rests with Nara Lokesh. It is well known that from officials’ postings to the composition of the cabinet itself, TDP chief and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu made decisions keeping in view the future of Nara Lokesh. These have so far been informal discussions. But after AP IT and Human Resources Minister Nara Lokesh’s Delhi tour on Monday, even TDP leaders are of the opinion that it appeared as though he was trying to show that the discussion of Nara Lokesh functioning as the “Super CM” in Andhra Pradesh is in fact true. Nara Lokesh officially wrote on his Facebook page that during his Delhi visit, he met Union Minister J. P. Nadda and requested immediate allocation of urea, citing a shortage in the state. He did this without involving Agriculture Minister Acham Naidu. Lokesh also met Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and requested immediate approval for the expansion of the Kanuru–Machilipatnam road into six lanes to ease traffic congestion near Vijayawada Benz Circle, along with other appeals. However, AP Roads and Buildings Minister B. C. Janardhan Reddy was not present. Lokesh also met Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and sought cooperation for the speedy commencement of operations of the refinery-cum-petrochemical complex to be built by BPCL. He further discussed the progress of the refinery-cum-petrochemical complex that BPCL is planning to build at a cost of ₹95,000 crore over 6,000 acres near Ramayapatnam port.
These matters actually come under the purview of the state’s Industries Department. Without involving AP Industries Minister T. G. Bharat, Nara Lokesh took up the matter himself. Lokesh also met Union IT and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and sought support for Andhra Pradesh, which is ahead in advanced technology, digital infrastructure, quantum innovations, and policy reforms. Since this falls under Lokesh’s own portfolio, there is nothing to criticize in this regard. Lokesh also met Union Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal and requested the setting up of cashew, chili, and mango boards in Andhra Pradesh. He urged for a cashew board in Srikakulam, a chili board in Guntur to stabilize farmers’ income and boost global exports, and a mango board in Chittoor to strengthen the supply chain and global competitiveness. On the other hand, he met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and expressed gratitude for the liberal financial support being extended since the coalition government came to power in the state. He also requested financial assistance for the new projects being undertaken in Andhra Pradesh.
In total, Nara Lokesh met eight Union Ministers. In Andhra Pradesh, no other minister is likely to get such a chance to meet central ministers on matters unrelated to their own department. Since Parliament sessions were ongoing, there is also discussion that Lokesh carried out this entire exercise according to a plan. Generally, only a Chief Minister has the authority to intervene across all departments in this way. So the question arises—did Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu delegate the powers of other state cabinet ministers’ portfolios to Nara Lokesh as well? Or has he officially made him the “Super CM”? One minister expressed surprise over this.
