Lokesh padayatra in Seema buoys cadres

Tirupati: TDP national general secretary Nara Lokesh completed his padayatra in Rayalaseema region successfully. He began his long journey with a target of completing 4,000 km in the state from Kuppam to Itchapuram on December 27, 2022. It was aimed at highlighting the YSRCP government failures and to motivate TDP activists who were said to be demoralised during the last four years with the vindictive politics of the ruling party.

Despite several initial hurdles created by the police, he never looked back and proceeded with his yatra, bringing enthusiasm in the cadres. Police have filed several cases on him and seized his mike on various occasions to prevent him from addressing the public. Undeterred by such moves, Lokesh never had second thoughts about his target. He only gave a break to padayatra due to MLC election code, the death of Nandamuri Tarakaratna, Ugadi festival and Mahanadu.

Lokesh has completed 124 days of his padayatra by Monday and covered 1,587 km in Rayalaseema region. Apart from interacting various sections of the people on the way to his padayatra, he mingled with party workers in several parts closely which boosted their morale to fight for the party. He took 45 days to complete 577 km in the combined Chittoor district, 23 days in Anantapur district to cover 303 km, 40 days in Kurnool district to cover 507 km and 16 days to cover 200 km in the combined Kadapa district.

In the process, he covered all constituencies in the erstwhile Chittoor and Kurnool districts, nine constituencies in Anantapur district and seven constituencies in the combined Kadapa district thereby covering 44 constituencies in the region.

While interacting with the party local leaders in different constituencies, he confirmed about 35 candidates out of 52 constituencies in Rayalaseema for the next elections either directly or indirectly. According to party sources, unless there are any last-minute changes these candidates will contest the elections.

During his interactions with the people from various sections and in public meetings, he gave more than 100 assurances which he wants to fulfil after coming to power. He also unveiled stone plaques at every 100 km of his padayatra with assurances relating to that particular area saying that they will be fulfilled within one year of coming to power. He even released the Mission Rayalaseema declaration with the assurances about Rayalaseema.

The highlight of his padayatra programme was ‘Selfie with Lokesh’ through which he has been posing for over 1000 selfies with youth and others at the campsite daily before the commencement of the yatra.

Though the party faced humiliating defeat in several constituencies in the region in 2019, Lokesh padayatra witnessed huge response which the party cadres are considering as a big morale boosting victory ahead of the next elections.