In an interview, TDP general secretary and Chandrababu Naidu’s son N Lokesh Naidu speaks about why his party needs to be “secular”, why the reservation statements are not the combined stand of the alliance, and how the battle in Andhra Pradesh is shaping up. Lokesh lost the Assembly polls from Mangalagiri five years ago by 1.03 lakh votes and is contesting again this time.Excerpts:The TDP has always been and will remain a secular party. No one’s quota will be taken away by us. No one should be worried about that.Chandrababu Naidu has always maintained that socially and economically backward communities, irrespective of religion or caste, should get benefits. The TDP will only give, we will never take anything away from anyone. The TDP made minority welfare a priority decades ago so there is no question of removing the Muslim quota. There are a lot of fake videos doing the rounds (referring to the doctored videos of Amit Shah), but I am sure people can make out which are fake and what is the reality.We are also engaging with people and explaining that BJP’s stand against religion-based quota is only if the party comes to power on its own and not if it is in an alliance.One thing is very clear. People understand that the BJP-led NDA is going to form the government at the Centre for the third time. They also understand that given the state Andhra Pradesh is in now, it will need the Centre’s support, whether it is for central funds, money to complete the Polavaram Project, or other irrigation and development projects. Irrespective of what the rival propaganda is, there is a groundswell of support for the NDA in Andhra Pradesh.In 2019, Jagan received the sympathy vote mainly because of his ‘padayatra’ (he covered 3,648 km across the state) and the promises he made at that time.None of those promises about creating jobs, bringing in investments, or developing the state have been fulfilled. Jagan talks as if he invented welfare schemes by claiming everywhere that he has transferred lakhs of crores through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes. But DBT does not solve unemployment, roads, civic infrastructure issues, and inflation. People have understood that they have been taken for a ride by Jagan and the YSRCP.Eligible beneficiaries have received monetary benefits but power and fuel bills have increased, and the prices of essential commodities have risen. People have also realised that Chandrababu Naidu had a plan on how to govern the state and develop it and not ruin it like Jagan Mohan Reddy. Jagan has not built anything new. The Amaravati project is dead and so is the three capitals plan. Every section of the Telugu society is frustrated with this government. So, yes, we are confident of performing well.