8 June 2024: In a significant statement following the recent electoral victory, Nara Lokesh, leader of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and son of party chief Chandrababu Naidu, expressed firm support for reservations for Muslims. Lokesh emphasized that the policy is aimed at achieving social justice rather than serving as a tool for appeasement.
The TDP recently emerged victorious in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections and secured 16 seats in the Lok Sabha, making it a crucial ally for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in forming the government. Despite this alliance, Lokesh clarified that the TDP’s stance on Muslim reservations remains steadfast.
“This policy has been in place for the past two decades, and we intend to continue it,” Lokesh stated. “Minorities continue to suffer, and their per capita income remains the lowest. As a government, it is our responsibility to lift them out of poverty. Our decisions are not for appeasement but to alleviate poverty.”
Lokesh also dismissed rumors that the TDP is seeking key ministerial portfolios in the new government. “TDP never negotiates for positions; we negotiate for state funds. Our focus is on the state’s interests, not on ministries,” he affirmed.
This announcement underscores the TDP’s commitment to addressing socio-economic disparities while maintaining its strategic political alliances.
