- Lokesh’s blatant lies at the India Today Conclave
- Lokesh once again proves, without saying it, that he has surpassed his father in deceiving people
- Dodges and evasions on crucial questions
- Becomes a laughing stock with irrelevant answers
- Lies even about student strength in government schools
- Asked where the 20 lakh jobs are, he talks about future plans
- Asked whether he is ready for an inquiry into DSC, he says go to court
- Lokesh remains silent on unemployment allowance
- Claims 12 lakh students left government schools, but provides no evidence
- Blames voters when questioned about implementation of election promises
- Indirectly admits that people were deceived with Super Six and Super Seven
- One position on the Election Commission in 2019, another now
- Tall claims on governance, but admits “we missed the bus” on energy planning
- Junior 420 shifts responsibility onto the people to escape accountability
A discussion is gaining momentum across the state that Nara Lokesh has once again proved that he can surpass even his father when it comes to deceiving people. The India Today South Conclave held in Kochi became the latest platform for this. Lokesh failed to give a straight answer to any question posed by senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai and instead resorted to evasions and diversions. His irrelevant answers turned him into a subject of ridicule, while the TDP’s paid social media ecosystem began showering him with exaggerated praise.
Whether it was the promise of 20 lakh jobs, unemployment allowance, an inquiry into the DSC scam, implementation of election promises, the contradictory position on the Election Commission, or failures in energy planning, Lokesh avoided giving direct answers. Social media users have responded with satire and trolling. Here is a closer look at the questions raised by Rajdeep Sardesai at the India Today Conclave and Lokesh’s responses.
Key Issues Raised
At the India Today South Conclave in Kochi, senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai questioned Minister Nara Lokesh on several important subjects, ranging from the Election Commission and jobs to DSC, government schools, the state’s fiscal condition and election promises.
Lokesh’s silence on critical issues and his vague answers became a matter of discussion. Instead of explaining what had actually been achieved so far, he repeatedly spoke about targets, plans and future investments.
Questions such as what happened to the promises made before the elections, whether the government was ready for an independent inquiry into the DSC scam, and what official basis existed for the figures quoted by Lokesh remained unanswered.
1. Anger Against EC in 2019, Defence of EC in 2026
Rajdeep’s Question:
In 2019, Chandrababu Naidu went to the extent of saying that the Election Commission and the BJP were together destroying democracy. Today you are defending the same Election Commission. Does your position change depending on where you stand politically?
Lokesh’s Answer:
We operate based on facts and data. We continue to give our views to the Election Commission. It is not right to blame the Election Commission after losing an election. Examining electoral rolls and strengthening the booth-level system is the responsibility of political parties.
Opposition Comment:
Were Chandrababu Naidu’s serious allegations in 2019 right or wrong? If they were wrong, will he withdraw them now? Why are sermons on restraint and morality being delivered today?
What new facts and data caused this change from the earlier position? Saying there can be problems in a system is one thing. Explaining the specific allegations made earlier against the same institution is another. Mixing the two together and making contradictory, opportunistic political statements has become a habit for Chandrababu and Lokesh.
2. Jobs, Jobs, Jobs… But How Many Jobs Have Actually Been Created?
Rajdeep’s Question:
Before the elections, you promised jobs and cash support for unemployed youth. Where are they? How many jobs have been created so far? How many people have received the promised ₹3,000 monthly unemployment allowance and from when?
Lokesh’s Answer:
The main issue for youth is jobs, jobs, jobs. We are focusing on revamping the curriculum, ITIs, investments and industries. That is where the target of 20 lakh jobs comes from. We will create jobs by aligning education with industry requirements, transforming ITIs and attracting investments.
Opposition Comment:
Out of the promised 20 lakh jobs, how many have actually been created so far? How many are genuinely new jobs?
Are private investment MoUs being counted as jobs, or are only employees who have actually joined payrolls being counted?
What is the status of the unemployment allowance promised in the election manifesto? Has even one rupee been paid?
Is it not a fact that the promises made in 2024 of 20 lakh jobs and ₹3,000 per month until employment have been shelved? Is ignoring a manifesto promise after using it to seek votes not deception?
3. Ready for an Inquiry into the DSC Scam?
Rajdeep’s Question:
Rajdeep raised the issue of irregularities in the DSC sports quota, including fake BC and sports quota certificates, recruitment irregularities and the demand for an independent inquiry.
Lokesh’s Answer:
The sports quota certificates were issued by the previous government. They were issued during the tenure of previous ministers and MLAs. We got them verified seven times by officials.
Opposition Comment:
How was the current verification conducted?
The date on which a certificate was issued is one question. But who verified those certificates during DSC-2025 recruitment, and who determined whether they were valid, is another.
Why did Lokesh not answer questions about the verification process?
The core question is how jobs were given without an examination. On that issue, silence became his answer.
4. Ready for an Independent Investigation?
Rajdeep’s Question:
Is the government ready for an investigation by an independent agency into the DSC irregularities?
Lokesh’s Answer:
I have done nothing wrong. If you want, go to court and obtain a direction. I have no objection.
Opposition Comment:
If there is no objection to an inquiry, why is the government itself not ordering an independent investigation?
Telling people to go to court and obtain directions is one thing. The government itself investigating the allegations and establishing the truth is another.
If the allegations are baseless, why fear an independent inquiry? Instead of saying “go to court”, why not say “we are ready for an investigation”?
5. Unsupported Figures on Government School Enrolment
Lokesh:
During the YS Jagan government, 12 lakh students moved to the private sector.
Opposition Comment:
According to UDISE+ figures, enrolment in Andhra Pradesh government schools was 40,42,535 in 2019-20 and 40,50,116 in 2023-24.
A straightforward comparison of these official stock figures does not show any net loss of 12 lakh students.
Further, in 2020, around 2.68 lakh students moved from private schools to government schools.
Therefore, there is no basis for Lokesh’s claim that 12 lakh students moved to private schools.
Was he referring to a decline in total government-school enrolment? Was he adding all individual student transfers across multiple years? Was it based on transfer certificate data, UDISE+ data or some other departmental database?
Without explaining any of these, how can unsupported figures be presented as facts?
6. Did 1.10 Lakh Students Now Move from Private to Government Schools?
Lokesh:
At the same time, 1.10 lakh students have now moved from private schools to government schools.
Opposition Comment:
Only recently, newspapers prominently reported Lokesh himself saying that one lakh students had left government schools. He also acknowledged that this happened under the coalition government.
Then on what basis did he claim at the India Today Conclave that 1.10 lakh students had increased?
During which academic year did this happen? What database supports the claim? Is it based on transfer certificates or net enrolment change?
The government must release the relevant official data and UDISE data.
7. Tall Claims About RTGS, Yet “We Missed the Bus” on Energy Planning
Rajdeep’s Question:
How does RTGS help with drought, farmers and water management?
Lokesh’s Answer:
Speaking about Real Time Governance, Lokesh said technology was being used for water management, farmers and other areas.
He also said: “Energy planning missed the bus… We haven’t been able to deliver the results up to my satisfaction… We missed the bus on energy planning.”
Opposition Comment:
Lokesh’s own comments expose that the government’s claims about RTGS are more hype than performance.
Why did he not speak about El Niño drought conditions, the declaration of drought mandals, farmers suffering through the Kharif season, failures in water management, the drama surrounding the release of water through the Polavaram Right Canal, or attempts to take credit for the Veligonda project?
Does this not amount to admitting that the government failed to take advance measures against drought?
When the government claims that RTGS enables early identification of problems, why did it fall behind in energy planning, an area critical to the state economy?
Which decisions were delayed? What was the financial impact? These questions require answers.
8. Asked About Debt and Promises, Why Blame the Voters?
Rajdeep’s Question:
Andhra Pradesh stands 17th among 18 major states in the NITI Aayog Fiscal Health Index. With such fiscal pressure, should you not have acted more responsibly before making such large election promises?
Lokesh’s Answer:
This is a matter of mutual responsibility. Voters must also act responsibly. Why blame only political leaders?
Opposition Comment:
If Andhra Pradesh stands 17th in the 2026 NITI Aayog Fiscal Health Index, why were massive promises made during the elections?
Why blame voters after failing to implement those promises?
Why evade crucial questions about mounting debt and election commitments and instead insult voters?
You make promises, fail to implement them, betray the people and then say that the voters are responsible. Lokesh has effectively demonstrated why he deserves the tag “Junior 420”.
Contradictory Statements and Incoherent Answers
Lokesh’s immaturity once again came to the fore at the India Today Conclave.
On one hand, he said Gen Z expects results. He repeatedly spoke about “jobs, jobs, jobs” and said governments have only five years and must deliver results quickly.
On the other hand, he said educational reforms require at least ten years, a full decade.
Netizens are mocking these mutually contradictory comments as amateurish.
When questioned about the coalition’s promises of 20 lakh jobs, unemployment allowance, rising debt, wealth creation, Aadabidda Nidhi, pensions from the age of 50 and other Super Six and Super Seven commitments, Lokesh offered hollow responses.
How many jobs were created in 2025? How many in 2026? In which sectors? How many investments were actually grounded? How many jobs translated into payroll employment?
Does the government have the courage to release details, including PF accounts? Can it place a government employment dashboard before the public?
People Want Answers, Not Fake Numbers
Criticism is mounting that Lokesh, like his father, has mastered the use of falsehoods, inflated figures and half-truths.
People are laughing at the spectacle of Lokesh speaking about Andhra Pradesh’s future on the India Today platform while the yellow media and the TDP fake-news ecosystem project it as an extraordinary performance.
People are asking whether this is the person being projected as a future leader and whether such a person represents the leadership the present generation needs.
People are questioning the legitimacy of a government that fails to implement its promises but continues preaching to others.
They are demanding facts about how much of the election manifesto has actually been implemented instead of endless rhetoric about “vision”.
Continuously blaming the previous government and repeatedly using political labels irrespective of the platform has become routine for the father-son duo.
The public discussion now is that they should change this approach and focus instead on implementing the promises they made to the people.
