TDP resorting to slander, Charges Lok Satta

"We are not surprised by the Telugu Desam Party resorting to slander against our founder President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan", asserted the Lok Satta Party today.

"Parties and forces which ignored and ridiculed us initially are now hitting below our belt as anticipated by us, testifying to the momentum we have gained in the 2009 elections," commented party spokesman Smt G.Pratibha Rao, Katari Srinivasa Rao, Laxman Balaji, Raja Reddy, Vijayendar Reddy and N. Saroja Devi briefed the media today responding to TDP's outburst.

Interacting with the media, they said, "We can understand TDP's frustration over its failure to come to power although it mounted Himalayan efforts. Instead of honestly introspecting, it initially sought to blame other parties and electronic voting machines for its debacle. When its convoluted arguments did not cut ice, It is now attempting to make baseless allegations against Dr. JP."

The Party spokespersons recalled that Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan had launched the Lok Satta Party in 2006 believing that people's lives cannot be transformed unless politics was unshackled from dynastic families, which have turned the noble profession into a lucrative business enterprise. Within a short span of less than three years, the Lok Satta has captured the minds of millions of people all over the State with its clear-cut ideology, practicable program, integrity, sincerity, commitment and competence of its leader Dr. JP to rewrite the grammar of politics.

"We feel humbled by the faith the voters reposed in us spurning irresistible inducements like liquor and money here and now and cash transfers and color televisions in future. We are sorry that we have not been able to translate the unparalleled people's support into votes because of our organizational weaknesses and resource constraints. Instead of blaming others or stars for our performance, we have decided to overcome our weaknesses and make the Lok Satta the driver of politics in the months and years to come."

The Lok Satta Party, they recalled, had offered to join hands with any party, which was prepared to abjure use of liquor and money to induce voters and fielding of candidates with criminal antecedents. Not even one party including the TDP had paid even lip sympathy to our criteria leave alone abiding by them. It was only then the Lok Satta chose to contest the 2009 elections on its own. There was no reason d'etre for the Lok Satta if it were to align with any of the traditional parties, which were not prepared to change a wee bit and were committed only to pursuing politics of corruption.

Refuting TDP charges, they said that the Lok Satta was the only party, which functioned democratically and transparently. Its income and expenditure could be accessed by anybody on the Internet. It was so poor that the expenditure incurred by the party and all its candidates in the elections was less than half of what a traditional party candidate spent in one parliamentary constituency.

Lok Satta spokespersons pointed out that Dr. JP had resigned from the National Advisory Council before launching the party. He did indeed meet the Prime Minister and the UPA Chairperson when he took part in NAC meetings. Lok Satta leaders have excellent personal relationships with all leaders including LK Advani, Arun Jaitely, Venkaiah Naidu, as well as leaders of all political parties in the state. Lok Satta believes that we all belong to one country and we have the common obective of transforming the lives of our people. But to attribute ulterior motives to cordial relations and ordinary courtesies was nothing but an attempt at character assassination.