'Is The System Perfect? Absolutely Not': Nara Lokesh Backs EC At India Today South Conclave

Name: 'Is The System Perfect? Absolutely Not': Nara Lokesh Backs EC At India Today South Conclave
Uploaded: 2026-10-04T14:26:54+00:00
Duration: 23 min 43 s
Channel: India Today

00:00Hello and welcome once again, ladies and gentlemen, to the India Today South Conclave here in the

00:06lovely city of Kochi, where we are joined by a very special guest, someone who represents

00:11the gen-next of leaders in this country. His father is the senior most chief minister that

00:20India has at the moment, and he is seen as the face of the future. Please welcome the

00:25Telugu Desam leader, Nara Lokesh, Minister for HRD, IT, Electronics and Communications and

00:31Real-Time Governance. Good to have you, Lokesh, on the show. I want to start by two hot-button

00:38topics which are resonating nationally, not just in Andhra Pradesh but across the country.

00:43The first is the Election Commission. Where does the TDP stand? Because immediately after

00:50when this entire Election Commission issue blew up, your leader of the Lok Sabha, who's

00:57probably here, said that the EC should clarify in the interest of transparency. Now it seems

01:04all is well. The TDP seems to have suddenly no problem with the EC. Where does the TDP stand?

01:12Do you believe that Gyanesh Kumar ji should step down as the rest of the opposition is demanding?

01:19Thank you very much for having me in the session, and I love the first question. It is a hot

01:24topic. I believe that there's responsibility on the people also who are questioning the system.

01:31Now you see a lot of political parties also questioning regarding SAR. As a political party,

01:38Telugu Desam party has always sought clarifications on various subjects related to SAR, in opposition,

01:46even when we are in power. In fact, as recently as about a year back, we sought a lot of

01:51clarification,

01:52because we also went through our own SAR process. So is the system perfect? Absolutely not. There are

01:57areas of improvement like any system is. But is the intent there to make it better, to resolve the

02:04issues that need resolution? That is in place. So as a party, we've seen the letter that the Election

02:10Commission has put out. We believe that is in order. So you don't agree with the Rahul Gandhi view that

02:15the

02:15EC is working at the behest of the BJP or the NDA leadership that the Gyanesh Kumar ji has been

02:23put

02:24there as a hatchet man to ensure that every election is won by the BJP according to him, irrespective of

02:30anti-incumbency. Well, he won elections in Kerala, Karnataka, Talangana. So how can you, so there, there's no

02:40role of SIR. If you lose, there's a role of SIR. I mean, where is your organization to even look

02:46at votes, where

02:47votes are getting added? Have you done any homework? Where is your boot level organization? In absent of it, you're

02:53blaming the Election Commission. Your father Chandrababu Naidu ji was in alliance with the Congress in 2019. There is a

02:59tweet of him,

02:59which still stands, where he said that the EC is destroying democracy along with the BJP. Now, today,

03:06you are coming out in defense of the EC and the BJP. It seems in Indian politics, where you stand

03:10depends

03:10on where you sit. In our case, we believe based on facts and data. Our belief system is quite clear.

03:18And as a political... Facts could not have been different location 2019 to 2026. No, but we continue to fight.

03:23Who said we don't?

03:25We have expressed our opinions. We have gone to Election Commission multiple times. We have stated

03:29that, you know, SIR should be done in a certain way. We have our opinion at the table. We continues

03:34to

03:34continue to voice our opinion.

03:36So I want to understand what is the TDP's role? Are you a constructive

03:40critic within the government? What is the TDP stand within the NDA? Are you completely committed

03:45to the BJP and Narendra Modi ji?

03:48We are an ally of NDA. We have an opinion on a subject. We will voice it within the four

03:54walls.

03:55And similarly, the Wakaf bill went to JPC. We gave our input. In various other matters, we have given our

04:01input. And we'll continue to do it. We'll continue to play a role in the NDA government. We'll continue to

04:07give our feedback to the government. So you're very clear that when the opposition calls for the

04:12impeachment of the CEC, when the opposition starts, says that they're going to have a jail

04:16bharu aandolan or street-wide protest, TDP will stand firmly by the Narendra Modi government on this

04:24issue. You don't see that the BJP has tried to game the system or fix the system to ensure that

04:29they

04:29win elections. If they gamed and fixed the system, then why did they lose Kerala?

04:34The BJP is not a major force in Kerala. The BJP, you could argue that Congress and

04:41the BRS were the top two forces. Can you say that if you look at it in the parliament elections,

04:45majority of the MP seats were won by BJP. Same thing in Kerala. So see, it's very, it's political

04:52convenience to blame. But then do you have an institutional framework in the field to ensure

04:56that the voting is mapped? It's not there for Congress. It's easy to blame when you lose on

05:02election commission. When you win, you can say that there are various other reasons that you won an

05:06election on. In many ways, I don't know where you qualify. You're 43. You're a millennial.

05:11But I want to understand where do you stand on this Gen Z and the angst of a younger India,

05:19which seems after particularly the rise of the cockroach Janata Party, to be railing against the

05:24system. They become anti-establishment. Do you believe Gen Z has a genuine reason to be angry?

05:32Fundamentally, I believe that we are seeing a new movement in India where

05:36it has nothing to do with caste, religion or region. It has to do with the demographic,

05:41where there is a set of youngsters who believe that the system has to be transformed.

05:46I believe that are there areas to improve? Absolutely. Even in our own government, I believe

05:51that there are multiple areas that we can do better. So what really excites me is that now

05:56we've identified the problems. We understand where we stand. As youngsters, all of us can come together

06:01and find solutions to those problems. I'm told you started something called

06:06Canteen Pe Charcha. Kind of you're going to school, college canteens across Andhra Pradesh.

06:11What are the young telling you? Jobs, jobs and jobs. The single point

06:17that today the youth of India is asking is, create more and more jobs. So that is the single agenda

06:23with which my government is also working. We're all working together. So if you look at it,

06:28that's where the idea of creating 20 lakh jobs came about. So it's a single agenda from the Honourable

06:35Chief Minister himself to the last mile functionary. We're all about creating jobs.

06:39But isn't that the big challenge? Because before you came to the polls of 2024, you all made various

06:47promises to the young, including cash transfers that would be given to unemployed. You all promised

06:53lakhs of jobs. It's not happened. The young are still waiting for jobs. You're yourself admitting here

06:59today that when you meet them, they say jobs, jobs, jobs. You tell me, what are you doing to address

07:03the concerns of jobs, jobs, jobs in a state like Andhra Pradesh?

07:07One, it starts with education. Mapping what's the requirement of the industry and the market

07:13to the entire curriculum. Working on a curriculum revamp, number one. Number two, creating our ITIs

07:19closer to the ecosystem, the industrial ecosystem. That's been a great focus for us in Andhra Pradesh.

07:25And that is what will differentiate us from various other states. Three is actually working with the

07:30industry, attracting investments to create jobs. If you look at it in the last one year,

07:34Andhra Pradesh has attracted 25% of the investments that have come to India. That sets us apart.

07:40And if you look at it, we have created. LG is now going operational. Premier Energy has already

07:46gone operational. So we are not about MOUs. We are about grounding these projects, creating jobs in

07:50the local economy and ensuring that the youth of Andhra Pradesh have the skills that is required by

07:56these industrial ecosystems. While you mentioned jobs, jobs, jobs, one of the things that emerged

08:01during the Gen Z movement was also exams, exams, exams, the way exams are conducted. And you have also

08:08faced the fire because your opposition YSRCP has been alleging irregularities in the large scale

08:14teacher recruitment process. They've hit the street on the on that issue. Do you believe the way

08:19examinations are conducted in this country needs a complete relook or review? The way government

08:25conducted exams are done in particular, because every exam seemingly, there is some controversy

08:30or the other that emerges. First, let's start from Gali. And Andhra Pradesh, if you look at our DSE

08:37examination, it was done to the highest ethical order. And political, unemployment employees are

08:45coming and talking about DSE. It's sad that the former chief minister doesn't even know the difference

08:50between DSE and APPSC. And he's questioning me. He's not conducted one teacher exam in the last

08:56five years. And he's questioning me. He's gone to the court. There were 300 cases filed against the DSE

09:01process. Not even one allegation has been proved. So we have held DSE examination to the highest order.

09:10He's saying fake backward class and sports quota certificates were used by candidates. Question

09:16that selection involving participation certificates wants a CBI inquiry. Those certificates were given by

09:22his own ministers. The certificates were given by his own sports minister, his MLA's. There are photos

09:28where students who qualified through sports quota got their certificates from the YCP government.

09:35So when you're in power, it is right. When you're in opposition, it is wrong. To on sports quota,

09:40they went to court and they haven't been able to prove it. In the court, they filed a case saying

09:44that they want a CBI investigation. And the court has not said there's no facts here.

09:49Are you open to an independent probe? When I've done nothing wrong,

09:54they can go to the court and take a direction. Absolutely, I'm fine with it.

09:57Just for a moment to come back to the Gen Z point, it seems that the government has said that

10:02MPs, ministers should all go to universities across the country, interact with students.

10:07Rather than interact, should they start listening to students? You know, putting up Instagram reels.

10:12I don't know whether you're also an Instagrammer. You put up reels, but do you believe that's the

10:17way to connect with the young as the government wants, but actually to listen to what the young really

10:22want? I believe every government should listen, irrespective to the age group.

10:27Is this government listening? Is the Modi government listening to the voices of the young?

10:31In Andhra Pradesh, we're doing it. Our MPs are now going to colleges. I'm also going to colleges.

10:37With no agenda, we're sitting there having an open conversation. That is where great ideas actually

10:42end up coming. You know, there's specific advice given on quantum. When I went to Narsarapeta

10:47constituency and I went to the university there, the kids asked me that they want courses in quantum

10:53computing. And that's where I work backwards with IBM to bring about capsule courses for the kids

10:57there and they get credit for it. So once you, you know, create this practice of just sharing them

11:02out, there are a lot of ideas that we can put together. So is that an advice that you're in

11:06a way

11:06giving? Because you said in Andhra Pradesh, we're doing it. Is that the advice you'd give to the center

11:10rather than rely on one minute reels, Instagram reels? The way actually is to go on the ground,

11:15listen to the students and then build the infrastructure to make them AI friendly for the future.

11:20I believe we are already doing it. Can we do it? Meaning is the, is the central government

11:25doing it or is the Andhra government doing it? In central government, we have one cabinet

11:28minister. We have one minister of state. Their feedback to me is that they're also going to the

11:32field. They are interacting with the youngsters across board. And I believe that this is just

11:37the beginning. Greater discussion should happen. You know, it's a very interesting time. And the way

11:43you just mentioned quantum computing, there's talk about making what Amravati a quantum valley.

11:49I mean, is this Chandra Babu Naidu's great dream? Now, there are two views to it. I, you know,

11:54you've been saying my leader, my leader is also, uh, you know, your, your father, he's also someone

12:00who really positioned Hyderabad as an IT capital. All those years ago, he was ahead of his time.

12:07Absolutely. No doubt about it. Can he really do with Amravati what he did with Hyderabad?

12:13Or is this some Tughlaqian dream that I don't have Hyderabad? I need to convert Amravati in the

12:19middle of Andhra Pradesh into an AI or a quantum computing hub. A lot of people have the same

12:25opinion when he spoke about IT revolution in Hyderabad. They said Bangalore is so far ahead,

12:30but then it takes one leader to transform any economy. Look at it globally. It took one leak,

12:36one year to transfer Singapore. Mr. Naidu is known to do it and he continues to do it. So quantum

12:43is not

12:43a figment of imagination. The computer is here. We just heard our advisor for defense,

12:48Atish Redikar, who spoke about it, threadbare. Next frontier is actually going to be quantum

12:53and we are embracing it. You know, I want to ask you this question,

12:57Lokesh, which is, I think a question that perhaps should also be asked to finance ministers in the

13:01country, but there is a major challenge that almost all states are facing, which is a fiscal challenge.

13:06When you look at the number, you are actually, Andhra Pradesh is ranked 17th among 18 major states by the

13:13Neeti Aayog fiscal health index, its lowest position in a decade. Clearly you're struggling to get the

13:20resources for the various expenditures you put in all the guarantee schemes. Do you believe this

13:26country is heading for a major fiscal crisis? You're a management graduate, you know numbers.

13:30Is this something that, you know, before elections, you make big promises. Then when it actually comes

13:35to delivery, you find that the treasury is empty. Is that a big challenge that you're facing?

13:40Is it a challenge for the states? It is a challenge. No questions about it. But look at the other

13:45side.

13:46Andhra Pradesh is now one of the fastest growing economies. Our GST is almost double-digit growth

13:51rate. We are about close north of 17-18 percent. We are waiting for this month results. I think they'll

13:57come in a week's time. Similarly, energy demand minus the El Nino impact, if you look at even energy

14:03growth rate is almost north of 25 percent. El Nino put it on a different level, it's almost 45-50

14:09percent

14:09growth rate. But we're at 25 percent. So the state is also growing. And I believe in the long term,

14:14we will be able to service our debt obligations. No second thoughts about it.

14:18But should governments be more conscious before they make these large announcements before

14:22elections that involve cash transfers, given the fiscal health in this country?

14:26I believe that it's a two-way street. Even the electorate also has to get responsible,

14:30so does the government. If today voting patterns are emerging based on poll promises,

14:37then why are you only blaming the politicians? It's easy to always blame a politician. It's equally

14:43responsible on both sides of the aisle to say that, yes, we need a government. I want to see a

14:49society

14:50where once they've come out of the cycle of the poverty, they'll say that, yes, we don't need

14:55welfare anymore. We are already out. We have jobs. We're able to manage our ends. We're happy. And that

15:00we have to get to there. I had the deputy chief minister of Telangana on the show, on the conclave.

15:07And he said that the southern states feel discriminated against, that the double engine model is only

15:13benefiting North India because the BJP is in power in North India as center. The southern states are losing

15:18out. We contribute more to the national exchequer. We get much less. TDP is very silent on this. Why?

15:25Is this where you stand? Depends on where you sit. Therefore, you don't want to upset Mr. Modi and

15:30the government by saying, no, no, we are not with the rest of the southern states. Do you agree with

15:34him

15:35when he says southern states are losing out? If you look at it, states that require handholding

15:40are being provided for. And this is nothing new. It's also happened during Congress. When Congress was in

15:46power, they also did the same. And now they're conveniently lecturing rest of India. However,

15:52I also believe that performing states should be given also equally preference. They should be

15:57supported. No, because the fear is political power is concentrated in the North, economic power in

16:02the South and the southern states fear particularly post delimitation, they will lose out. Do you share

16:07those fears? Do you believe economically advanced states should be rewarded for what they've done and

16:13what they've achieved? Absolutely. Performing states should be encouraged, number one. Number two,

16:18if you look at delimitation, with all due respect to Congress, if you look at it, they have created

16:23all this mess. It's very clear that if we do not act on it as of yesterday, 2026 census will

16:31be used

16:31for delimitation. Then who's going to lose? South India is going to lose. And that is why as a political

16:36party, we have said proportional representation, whatever representation that we currently have

16:41in parliament shall be maintained. And that's always been Telgudasam party's turn. And it was

16:46that condition with which the bill would have moved. 50% uniform across states. Across states.

16:50And you will support it if it comes out tomorrow. Absolutely. You know, one thing the uh,

16:55Chandrababu Naiduji's uh, Garu said the other day, which surprised me, he went in public and he said

16:59it more than once now that people should have more than two children. Whatever happened to humdo,

17:04humare doh. You see, now you're, it's almost as if Andhra Pradesh is worried that you'll get

17:10overwhelmed by the rising populations of the north Indian states. And he's gone completely against

17:15what all demographers have said over the years. Very unusual for a leader like that. Why would you

17:20say that? Is this a statement that you think a statesman like politician should make? Demographic

17:27management is the single challenge, single biggest challenge that countries like Japan,

17:32Singapore have all are already facing. Please don't look at Andhra. I mean,

17:37India has one India. North India is moving at a certain pace in terms of replacement rate.

17:42South India is at a different place in South states are at a different level. If you look at it,

17:48Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are the, are at the lowest level and it'll get further worse before it

17:53improves. So therefore, Mr. Naidu is alluding to the fact that demographic management is important.

17:59We have to maintain our replacement rate, which is 2.1. Andhra is now at 1.5 and it's going

18:06to go

18:07down further before it gets better. And this is not something he spoke about today. He spoke about

18:11it in 2019 and he's continues to talk about it. He's drawing attention of India to a subject that is

18:19going to be of paramount importance as we go down the road. But if we cannot provide sufficient jobs

18:24for the India of today, how will we provide sufficient jobs for the India of tomorrow if

18:28you start asking families to have three kids? I mean, you know, there is an affordability question.

18:33There are income questions involved. It's not such an easy solution. And most demographers say it's a bad

18:38idea. Improve quality of education. That's much better. Focus on that rather than asking people to have

18:44three kids. Are we improving quality of education? Absolutely. No second thoughts. Andhra is already

18:49doing it. Two, are we providing jobs? Yes. Have we done 100% justice? No. We are in the way.

18:55The

18:55journey has started. We are attracting investments. Projects are actually getting grounded. And we are

19:00not about MOEs. We are not just about announcements. We are about grounding these projects to create jobs.

19:04So as a state, we have shown that we can do and we have created jobs. Look at the legacy

19:08with which we

19:09started. Between 19 and 24, how much my state suffered. We have rebounded and we are able to

19:13create the jobs. I just have two minutes. I thought I would ask you something more personal.

19:17Uh, from 2024, when you, when you all won this election and you became a minister for the first

19:23time to now, what is the one thing you've learned? What is the one lesson you've learned in these two

19:28years about politics and public life? You were never a minister, first time minister. What have you

19:33learned in these two years? So this is actually my second term as a minister. Uh, but what I've learned

19:38is that we should have enormous patience to listen, listen to your electorate, listen to youngsters,

19:45listen to the middle age, take feedback. There's a lot we can learn and no system is perfect.

19:51If you want to correct, if you want to improve a system, there are always areas of improvement.

19:54And that is one thing I've learned. I see you using a mobile with your app, my TDP app,

20:01and you're constantly responding to your karyakartas all the time. Where do you get the time to do it?

20:07You're a young man. You've got a family. You're, you seem to spend more time responding to karyakartas

20:12than probably spending time with your family. Is that something you're comfortable with?

20:17It's not something I'm comfortable with, but I'm, I'm married lucky. I have a wife who supports me

20:22during my padiyatra, even now as a minister and as a party working president, she's always stood with

20:28me. She's always supported me. That's why I'm able to do what I'm able to do. And yes, my TDP

20:33is a great

20:33way where I get feedback from my karyakarta also. So she's the power behind you. Yeah, absolutely.

20:38She's your income earner, your breadwinner. She does all the, the, the real work and you interact

20:44with karyakartas. I love the way you're saying I'm not doing real work. All I'm saying is that

20:50when you came to, you know, people, if I may use the word, and I think I've said this to

20:56you before,

20:56when you came, people saw you as a Nepo kid, you know, he's there because he's Chandra Babu Naidu's

21:01son. And it's something you, and your NTR's grandson. It's something you had to live with.

21:05It's not your fault. Do you believe that's still a burden that you have to live with?

21:11You feel constantly daily. I have to prove myself before I'm accepted possibly as deputy chief

21:16minister or maybe chief minister of Andhra one day. I don't look at it like that. I don't,

21:20I've never aspired for higher office. I've aspired to win the hearts of the people.

21:23Oh, come on. I've always been very focused. You don't want to be chief minister of Andhra?

21:27That's not my priority. My priority is to change the education system as of yesterday.

21:32That is what drives me day in, day out. That's what keeps me awake at night.

21:36You know, when there are examinations, I mean, the entire team is up. We are monitoring it like no

21:41tomorrow because we don't want any mistakes to happen because it's the kids future. So we're very

21:45focused about it. So I have enough of work on my hands and on my head. And I love what

21:50I'm doing.

21:50I do it day in, day out. I breathe it. I live it. And I have a very understanding wife

21:55who supports

21:55me all the way. Do you miss anything in this 24 by 7 life of yours? I see you occasionally

22:00at T20

22:01cricket matches. I see young Andhra players now doing very well. You've got Sheikh Rashid could be

22:06a future India player. Are you, are you, do you miss all that? Watching sport, doing, being a little

22:12normal life. This is my life and I'm very normal. I enjoy what I'm doing and I won't change anything

22:19about it. I always believe ABC always be closing. Always?

22:24Be closing. What does that mean? So I go to a cricket match, close an investment for Andhra Pradesh.

22:29And you'll be surprised how many industrialists and entrepreneurs I met at a T20 match and how many

22:35deals got done there and they've come and invested in Andhra. So ABC always be closing.

22:40Okay. That's the Andhra way. No wonder you had a term which was once used called

22:44Andhra Pranar. So you are an Andhra Pranar of the new generation who's closing deals at cricket

22:51matches. The other piece of advice I would give people after seeing what Lokesh was doing here

22:57last night is that if you have technology power, you can really use it to build an organization at

23:03times using modern technology, connecting to boots, 40,000 boots in your state, connecting them.

23:10And maybe there is a recipe there. So Chandra Babu Naidu's legacy of trying to marry tech to governance

23:16appears safe in your hands. Good to have you taking on all our questions and we wish you and your

23:24state

23:24very well. Thank you very much Nara Lokesh for joining us here on this fireside chat at the India

23:31Today's South Conclave. Give him a big hand ladies and gentlemen. Good to have a young leader taking

23:36all the questions without asking for the questions in advance. Thank you Rajdeep. Thanks for having me.

'Is The System Perfect? Absolutely Not': Nara Lokesh Backs EC At India Today South Conclave

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