Nara Lokesh had selected a very difficult seat to contest in the 2019 elections i.e., Mangalagiri. TDP won only one election from there since its inception. But Lokesh lost it by a slender margin of 5000 votes.
Usually, VIPs flee from the constituency if they lose but Lokesh stuck to it and worked in the constituency for the last three years. He has been doing many welfare and development activities.
He has given wedding gifts for the poor, insurance for journalists, etc. Recently, he started Anna Canteen and also an Aarogya Radham, a vehicle to impart medical care to the needy. He also laid a couple of damaged roads in the constituency.
He is also attending every program in the constituency and is trying to get closer to the people.
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had got survey results that Lokesh will definitely win the election if they are to be held today and shifted his focus on Mangalagiri.
He got TDP senior leader Ganji Chiranjeevi to defect from the party and will admit him into YSR Congress soon. He hails from the weavers’ community and he can be the candidate for YSR Congress to attract those who are in majority.
MLC Kandru Kamala’s son-in-law, Satish Kumar is also expecting the seat.
Kandru Kamala won on a Congress ticket in the 2009 elections over her nearest rival, the Praja Rajyam Candidate.
Sources say that Alla is unlikely to get another chance and one of these two will be YSR Congress’s candidate.
But Chiranjeevi is weak financially and not a popular leader. Satish Kumar is not active in the constituency.
If Lokesh wins from Mangalagiri, TDP will have a young leader to lead even if it loses the 2024 elections. The leadership will give hope to the TDP cadre about the future. So, Jagan wants to defeat Lokesh at any cost.
