Lokesh didn't use public money for flight travels?

The ruling Telugu Desam Party on Wednesday came out with evidence-based RTI revelations to rebut the allegations made in Sakshi Telugu daily about the flight travels of TDP general secretary and state IT minister Nara Lokesh.

The Sakshi paper recently claimed Lokesh made 77 flights to Hyderabad using public money.

The TDP, quoting RTI replies from all four departments under his charge — Human Resources, IT, Electronics and RTGS, to prove that Lokesh did not take even a single rupee from the government for travel or flight expenses.

“Every ticket, including special flights taken for urgent government duties, was paid entirely from Lokesh’s personal funds. These are not party statements; they are official, written, departmental records now in the public domain,” the TDP said in a statement. Readmore!

In stark contrast to Sakshi’s politically engineered storyline, the RTI responses establish that Lokesh has borne the full cost of all his travel for official delegations, investment missions, interstate meetings, and party responsibilities. 

“At a time when many leaders freely drain the state treasury for personal comfort, Lokesh’s conduct stands out as responsible, transparent and exemplary,” the TDP said.

The RTI that exposed these facts was filed by RTI activist Suresh Babu, whose questions brought out the truth on record.

The TDP said Sakshi recently claimed Lokesh was “vacationing” in Hyderabad every week — an allegation that collapses instantly when compared against his packed public schedule over the past week. 

“Lokesh travelled to Patna for the Bihar chief minister’s oath ceremony, attended the Sathya Sai Centenary celebrations in Puttaparthi, reviewed party programmes in Mangalagiri, took part in the NASIN event at Palasamudram, addressed a values conference at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram in Vijayawada, and presided over a mock assembly session in Amaravati,” it said.

“Lokesh also conducted 75 Praja Darbars, meeting thousands of citizens while Sakshi was busy peddling stories calling them "vacation trips,” the party criticised.

The RTI disclosures also tear apart another lie planted by Sakshi that Lokesh was holidaying in Hyderabad and Mumbai during last year’s Budameru floods. 

“Officially recorded timelines show that Lokesh was physically on the ground, supervising relief operations through the night, coordinating repair works with Water Resources Minister Nimmala Rama Naidu, and reviewing arrangements from the Vijayawada Collectorate,” it pointed out.