The Lok Satta Party, which came into existence on October 2, 2006, with the lofty ideal of ushering in a new political culture has taken a major step in that direction by opting for an Ombudsman system to monitor and guide its entire gamut of activities.
The Lok Satta is the first in the country to constitute a team of independent and outstanding people to oversee party activities.
The Ombudsmen will have the authority to monitor, inspect, advise, guide, and publicize their findings pertaining to Lok Satta Party’s organizational elections and open primary elections through which candidates to contest public office are chosen. They are empowered to look into party finances in terms of fund raising, expenditure, and accounting. The Ombudsmen will also look into the quality of the party’s public discourse and activities including forms of protest/dissent.
Sri K Madhava Rao, former State Election Commissioner and Chief Secretary, and Sri Justice Reddappa Reddy, former judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court have been invited to be the first Ombudsmen. Very soon another distinguished jurist from Telangana region will be joining the Ombudsmen team.
The Lok Satta Party, which is committed to transparency in all its activities, has posted its accounts on the Internet. It is now holding its organizational elections by secret ballot in Hyderabad city.
The Lok Satta Party believes that governance in the country cannot be improved unless political parties cleanse themselves first. Political parties, instead of being owned by the public, have become the pocket boroughs of a few politicians. Over the years, the politicians have mastered the art and science of making money for themselves and perpetuating dynastic rule to safeguard their ill-gotten wealth.
It is to fight against such political culture that the Lok Satta Party came into existence.
In its year-old existence, the Lok Satta has set an example to other parties by sticking to non-violent, democratic and constitutional forms of protest that do not inconvenience anybody. It has consciously shunned ‘bandhs’ and ‘rasta rokos’ and strikes, however provocative the issue might have been. It has stood for country’s unity and integrity and is not swayed by regional and parochial considerations whether the issue concerned sharing of river waters or reservations for deprived sections.
The Lok Satta is the first in the country to constitute a team of independent and outstanding people to oversee party activities.
The Ombudsmen will have the authority to monitor, inspect, advise, guide, and publicize their findings pertaining to Lok Satta Party’s organizational elections and open primary elections through which candidates to contest public office are chosen. They are empowered to look into party finances in terms of fund raising, expenditure, and accounting. The Ombudsmen will also look into the quality of the party’s public discourse and activities including forms of protest/dissent.
Sri K Madhava Rao, former State Election Commissioner and Chief Secretary, and Sri Justice Reddappa Reddy, former judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court have been invited to be the first Ombudsmen. Very soon another distinguished jurist from Telangana region will be joining the Ombudsmen team.
The Lok Satta Party, which is committed to transparency in all its activities, has posted its accounts on the Internet. It is now holding its organizational elections by secret ballot in Hyderabad city.
The Lok Satta Party believes that governance in the country cannot be improved unless political parties cleanse themselves first. Political parties, instead of being owned by the public, have become the pocket boroughs of a few politicians. Over the years, the politicians have mastered the art and science of making money for themselves and perpetuating dynastic rule to safeguard their ill-gotten wealth.
It is to fight against such political culture that the Lok Satta Party came into existence.
In its year-old existence, the Lok Satta has set an example to other parties by sticking to non-violent, democratic and constitutional forms of protest that do not inconvenience anybody. It has consciously shunned ‘bandhs’ and ‘rasta rokos’ and strikes, however provocative the issue might have been. It has stood for country’s unity and integrity and is not swayed by regional and parochial considerations whether the issue concerned sharing of river waters or reservations for deprived sections.
One of the most innovative and out-of-box feature. Certainly, Lok Satta is a beacon of hope for Indian Politics.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately all the blogs are filled with this sort of positive comments. But these will make you overconfident and result in a complacency.
ReplyDeleteYes the idea is innovative and first of its kind.
If LSP wants to make it more meaningful it should also include a common man with little social conscieousness and interest in real good to people.
Ramadevi Godugula
What is the term of the present Ombudsmen? Will it be forevr?
ReplyDeleteIs it going to take up any public grievances like other Obbudsmen?
Ramadevi Godugula