Andhra Pradesh IT minister Nara Lokesh speaking at the India Today Conclave, responded to the implied question how the state is at disadvantage because of the headstart cities like Bengaluru, Chennai or Hyderabad in a 'filmy' style.
Responding to whether other states like Telangana or a city like Bengaluru had a competitive advantage, the Andhra Pradesh minister said: "Karnataka has Bangalore, Tamil Nadu has Chennai, Telangana has Hyderabad. Andhra Pradesh has Chandrababu Naidu."'
"He is out competitive advantage," Lokesh stated.
Speaking with India Today TV's Rajdeep Sardesai, Nara Lokesh explained how he did not feel like a third generation politician. "I see myself as a karyakarta of the Telugu Desam Party. Being Chandrababu Naidu's son makes it 10 times harder. I am at a greater disadvantage, because he sees me every day," Lokesh quipped.
Andhra Pradesh's Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD), Nara Lokesh, outlined the state's ambitious plans to build a cutting-edge Data City in Visakhapatnam.
Speaking at the India Today Conclave 2025, He emphasised that Andhra Pradesh is poised to leapfrog into the next technological revolution by leveraging its high-quality workforce, enabling business-friendly ecosystems, and revamping education from KG to PG.We are at the cusp of a new revolution. States that position themselves with quality manpower and an enabling ecosystem can move ahead swiftly. Andhra Pradesh is at the right point to take that leap," Lokesh said. He highlighted that the state is actively competing with others to attract investments and technological advancements The Andhra Pradesh government had recently announced the development of a 500-acre Data City near Visakhapatnam, aiming to replicate Hyderabad's success with Hitec City. The project is expected to boost both technology and tourism, creating an ecosystem that fosters innovation and economic growth
Lokesh stressed the importance of aligning education with industry needs. "We are working with industries to build centers of excellence to shape the curriculum, from language arts to humanities. The next generation of thought leaders will come from Andhra Pradesh," he stated.
In December 2024, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced an AI initiative in collaboration with global tech giant Google. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed to drive transformative development in Visakhapatnam
Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh reflected on the contrasting experiences that have shaped his political and professional journey, stating that while his education at Stanford University provided him with a strong foundation in business, it was his 2023 padayatra that truly connected him with the political landscape
Speaking at the India Today Conclave 2025, Lokesh, said, "Stanford is great for business, but padayatra is essential for politics."
Lokesh, who undertook a 3,000-kilometre padayatra across Andhra Pradesh in 2023, emphasised that walking through villages and towns allowed him to understand the nuances of governance in a way that no classroom could. He highlighted how the experience helped him relate to Members of the Legislative Assembly and constituents on a much deeper level.
Drawing a broader perspective, Lokesh asserted that padayatras are not just limited to state politics but have significance for Bharat as a whole. Engaging with people on the ground, he said, offers a better understanding of grassroots issues, something that traditional political strategies often overlook. "You understand the nuances better, you connect to issues better," he said.
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