Dr Pilli Gururaja says a simple gesture of carrying luggage changed his first impression of Nara Lokesh
Amaravati, September 2026 : Dr Pilli Gururaja, the newly appointed president of Global NRI TDP, has recalled his first meeting with Nara Lokesh in Dallas in 2013, saying a simple gesture by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader changed his initial perception of political leaders.
Speaking in an interview about Nara Lokesh’s personality and leadership qualities, Gururaja said he had initially approached the meeting with certain assumptions about how a political leader might behave. He said he and Ravi Vemuru had gone to the airport to receive Lokesh when the incident took place.
Gururaja recalled that they had informally decided that if Lokesh expected them to handle his luggage and place it in the car, they would reconsider their association with him.
“We met Nara Lokesh at the airport that day. At the time, we had a certain perception of political leaders. We had already decided that if the luggage arrived and Nara Lokesh asked us to carry the suitcases and put them in the car, that would be our last journey with Nara Lokesh,” Gururaja recalled.
However, he said Lokesh surprised them by personally picking up their suitcases and placing them in the vehicle.
“That one incident showed us what kind of person Nara Lokesh was,” Gururaja said, describing the episode as an early indication of Lokesh’s personal approach and humility.
Gururaja also spoke about Lokesh’s views on the importance of party workers. According to him, Lokesh considers grassroots workers to be the permanent strength of the organisation and believes that leaders may change, but the contribution of workers remains fundamental.
He cited Lokesh’s message to party workers that an ocean is made up of countless small drops of water, suggesting that every worker becomes part of a larger collective effort by contributing to the party.
“Nara Lokesh strongly believes that party workers are the strength of the party, that leaders may come and go, but workers remain permanent,” Gururaja said.
Sees Influence of NTR and Chandrababu
Gururaja also drew a comparison between Lokesh and his family legacy, saying he sees elements of both his grandfather and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR), and his father, TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, in his personality.
“If the mass appeal of Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao and the class of Nara Chandrababu Naidu were blended together, the result would be Nara Lokesh,” Gururaja said.
He attributed courage and determination to Lokesh’s personality, while describing his vision as reflecting the influence of Chandrababu Naidu.
Gururaja also referred to Lokesh’s Yuvagalam Padayatra, saying the TDP leader faced several challenges during the statewide political campaign. He said Lokesh had demonstrated determination by standing by commitments made to party workers and supporters.
According to Gururaja, Lokesh’s willingness to keep his word has strengthened the confidence of those working with him.
The Global NRI TDP president said he felt proud to see the person he had first encountered in Dallas grow into a political leader with a large following. He said the transformation from a relatively informal first meeting to Lokesh’s present political role was particularly significant for those who had known him in his early years.
Gururaja’s account largely focuses on personal experiences and his assessment of Lokesh’s personality, rather than on specific policy positions or political achievements. His comments highlight the importance he places on Lokesh’s interaction with party workers, personal conduct and commitment to promises.
The recollection comes as Lokesh continues to play a prominent role within the TDP and Andhra Pradesh politics, while the party’s overseas supporters remain an important part of its wider organisational network.
