Nara Lokesh’s remarks at the India Today Conclave highlighted his vision for Andhra Pradesh’s IT and human resource development while also showcasing his political adaptability and ambition. His witty response, likening his father Chandrababu Naidu to a competitive advantage against states with well-established IT hubs, reflected confidence in the TDP’s leadership.
Lokesh acknowledged the challenges of being the son of a seasoned politician, emphasizing how his father's expectations made his journey even tougher. His transformation from a Carnegie Mellon and Stanford graduate into a grassroots politician was reinforced by his 226-day padayatra, which he credited with deepening his connection with the people.
His plans for a "Data City" in Visakhapatnam, modeled on past digital transformations like Hyderabad’s IT boom, signaled an intent to make Andhra Pradesh a leader in the AI revolution. His stance on AI was pragmatic—advocating for adaptation rather than resistance to technological change, ensuring the state's workforce is future-ready. He also introduced the concept of WhatsApp governance, inspired by people's demand for government services to be as accessible as commercial platforms.
Lokesh distinguished between caste and skill censuses, arguing that mapping skills across diverse professions is far more challenging but necessary for long-term economic growth. His pilot project in Mangalagiri aims to refine this process before scaling it statewide and possibly nationwide.
On linguistic policies, he dismissed concerns over Hindi imposition, emphasizing the importance of multilingual education, including global languages like German and Japanese. He supported the central government’s stance on regional languages and positioned the TDP as a party that prioritizes India’s interests over regional divides.
Regarding delimitation, he aligned with the concerns of southern states about population control efforts being used against them but maintained that Andhra Pradesh should not be drawn into election-driven narratives. He reinforced the TDP’s unconditional support for the NDA while affirming its role as a regional party with a national outlook.
Overall, Lokesh positioned himself as a technocrat-turned-politician blending global education with grassroots politics, determined to take his father’s digital governance legacy to the next level while addressing contemporary challenges like AI, education reform, and equitable federal policies.
