Harikrishna sees red on Lokesh's image at Mahanadu

The rift between the Nandamuri and Nara families widened further on Saturday, the second day of the Telugu Desam Party’s annual conclave Mahanadu, after party MP Nandamuri Harikrishna objected to the presence of images of TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu’s son, Nara Lokesh on the plexi-boards and banners.

Mr Harikrishna, son of the party’s founder-president NT Rama Rao, took serious objection to the presence of Mr Lokesh’s image on the plexi-boards and banners at the Mahanadu, while his own image was conspicuous by its absence.

The TDP has been rocked by the rift between the Nara and Nandamuri families over the future successor to the post of the party’s president, with the Nandamuri family keen on someone from within the clan to handle the party’s rein in the future.

However, Mr Chandrababu Naidu’s son N Lokesh is seen as a serious threat to the plans of the Nandamuri clan.

Saturday’s events were sparked off after party activists from Chittoor district placed the controversial plexi-board. These activists also demanded that Mr Naidu appoint Mr Lokesh as in-charge of Chandragiri Assembly constituency.

This riled Mr Harikrishna, who entered into heated arguments with the party activists.

Mr Chandrababu Naidu however sensed that the situation was likely to take an ugly turn and immediately intervened.

He asked the activists to remove the controversial plexiboard and further said that, “Lokesh is interested in his business and has no interest in politics. He would not enter politics.”

Mr Naidu also assured that action would be taken against those who placed the controversial plexi boards and cut outs.

This effectively cooled down the tempers and the issue was brought to a close