Lokesh reveals 2005 incident with Naidu inspired his politics

Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh has revealed that a single incident in 2005, involving his father and former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, inspired him to enter politics. Speaking about his early life, Lokesh said he was around 21 or 22 years old when he attended an event in Hyderabad with Naidu, who had recently lost an election. He recalled that as soon as Naidu entered the arena, all 5,000 people present stood up in respect, which deeply moved him.

Lokesh, who lost the 2019 assembly election from Mangalagiri but won in 2024 and became IT minister, said he had always aspired to a political career. He credited his mother for shaping his early years, noting that his father had a smaller role in that regard. Lokesh mentioned he had made his political ambition clear in his Stanford University application and also discussed it with his wife Brahmani.