Mumbai, May 30: After making the mega announcement yesterday of providing 33% reservation to women in the upcoming 2029 elections, Minister Nara Lokesh, on the second day of Mahanadu, called upon the youth of the state for a heartfelt one-on-one interaction and encouraged them to join and reform the politics of the state.
Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh held a special interaction with Gen Z youth at the TDP central office during Mahanadu and called upon youngsters to develop dedication, teamwork, and a fighting spirit to achieve success. Minister Lokesh said Andhra Pradesh is attracting large-scale investments in sectors such as AI, Quantum Technology, Data Centres, Automotive, and Renewable Energy. He stated that the government has already identified 22 industrial clusters across the state and is building industry ecosystems by setting up ancillary units alongside major industries.
He said the state has received investment proposals worth over Rs. 23 lakh crore so far, with companies like Google, ArcelorMittal, and Reliance planning major investments. Minister Lokesh urged youth to make use of emerging opportunities and assured them that the government would focus on skill development to transform youngsters into a highly skilled workforce.
The minister said reforms have already been introduced in higher education and stressed the need to update the academic curriculum in line with changing global requirements. Reiterating the government’s policy, he said, “One State, One Capital, Decentralised Development” remains the vision of the coalition government.
Minister Lokesh also cautioned youth against fake content and misinformation on social media. Referring to the DSC issue, he alleged that the opposition spread false propaganda, creating anxiety among lakhs of unemployed youth.
He said the government completed the DSC recruitment process transparently within 150 days and advised students to cross-check information before believing narratives circulated on social media. Encouraging youth to enter politics, Minister Lokesh said the Telugu Desam Party is providing opportunities for youngsters at every level, from village leadership to the Politburo.
Sharing his own political journey, he recalled losing the 2019 election in Mangalagiri before winning in 2024 with a huge majority, saying persistence and hard work are the only paths to success. He also appealed to students not to take extreme steps over examination failures, stating that one exam does not decide a person’s future and assuring full support to students.
Minister Lokesh further called for stronger support towards women’s empowerment and backed 33% reservation for women. He said women’s empowerment should begin at home and credited his mother and wife, Brahmani, as inspirations. Stressing the importance of employment generation, Minister Lokesh said MSMEs are equally important as large industries in creating jobs and asserted that employment creation remains the government’s top priority.