Is Nara Lokesh Babu trying to ape YS Jagan Mohan Reddy? Remember during the five-year TDP rule, YS Jagan had undertaken several student and youth interaction and outreach programmes across the state on various issues such as educational reforms and special status? They were well-attended and private college managements were roped in for the meeting. The programme was telecast on all TV channels.
These meetings helped create a feeling that Jagan is Jagan Anna and Jagan Mama and established him as a leader who cared for the youth. He took care to talk to girl students, posed for selfies and gave them autographs. It appears Lokesh too is following the same strategy. In the last one week, he has organized two such interactions. One was on June 10, when he spoke to the unemployed youths. On June 16, he interacted with the girl students on the issue of holding of intermediate examinations. The live, held from 12 noon was broadcast live in all pro-TDP channels. The pattern looked so similar to YS Jagan’s pattern.
Lokesh used one-liners like calling education minister a ‘confusion minister’ and calling Jagan as ‘mental mama.’ But, if the YouTube live streaming channels is any indication, Lokesh clearly has failed to impress the students. Some youths asked as to why he was opposing direct exams, when he wanted elections even when the Covid was in its peak. Some said he will never succeed. From these comments and the lacklastre viewership numbers, it seems, Lokesh still has a long way to go.
