TDP leader Taraka Ratna suffers cardiac arrest during Nara Lokesh’s padayatra

Kuppam: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) general secretary Nara Lokesh’s padayatra, ‘Yuva Galam,’ was off to an unfortunate start after actor-turned-TDP leader Taraka Ratna suffered a cardiac arrest and fainted during the padayatra. Taraka Ratna is the grandson of TDP founder and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister NT Rama Rao and Lokesh’s cousin.

Taraka Ratna fainted while they were coming out of a masjid in Kuppam after offering prayers. He was immediately rushed to a private hospital nearby.

According to Taraka Ratna’s uncle and actor Bala Krishna, he suffered a cardiac arrest. He was shifted to PES super-specialty hospital where specialists performed an angiogram procedure. Doctors said he has a few blocks in his heart. He is currently in the ICU.

He will be shifted to a hospital in Bangalore soon. Bala Krishna is in talks with the Karnataka state officials who assured to provide Green Channel to shift him. TDP leaders said Taraka Ratna was busy participating in party activities along with Bala Krishna and other leaders in the last few days.

Yuva Galam to cover 125 constituencies

Nara Lokesh began his 4,000-km padayatra Yuva Galam on 27 January from Kuppam. After offering prayers at the Srivari temple in Tirumala, Lokesh reached Kuppam and performed special pujas at the Varadarajula Swamy temple.

On the first day, he will cover 8.5 km and receive representations from the people. He will halt at PES Medical College and enter Palamaner constituency on 30 January after covering 28.8 km. During his 400-day padayatra till Srikakulam’s Ichapuram, Lokesh will visit more than 125 Assembly constituencies, covering several villages and interacting with the locals.

His padayatra mainly focuses on unemployment and the voice of the youth to bring changes in the development of the state.