Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan (Dr. JP) today counseled Civil Service entrants to regard their career as an opportunity to serve the public and not to make money.
“Service in armed forces, bureaucracy and politics has long been regarded as a badge of honor and dignity in the U. K. But in India, the ethos of public service in politics has almost vanished while it is compromised in armed forces and the bureaucracy in India.”
Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, who quit the IAS to launch the Lok Satta movement 13 years ago and the Lok Satta Party two years ago, was addressing a meeting in Chennai today. Sri Kala Sudha Telugu Association organized the meeting to present ‘Telugu Tejam’ awards to nine students selected for Civil Services. The following are the receipients of the awards... Mr. C. HariKiran (18th rank), Mr. N. Venkatesh (19th rank), Mr. B. Goutham (23rd rank), Mr. U. Krishna Mohan (24th rank), Ms. Dasari Sindhuri (43rd rank), Mr.KR Lavanya Kumar (54th rank), Ms. Akurati Pallavi (55th rank), Mr. D. Prashanthi Reddy (64th rank), Mr. Nanduri Sandeep (91st rank), Mr. P. Srinivasa Reddy (583rd rank). Though visually impaired, Mr. Srinivasa Reddy acheived his goal of civils.
Dr. JP called upon the civil service entrants to appreciate that India is one nation although it is multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-lingual. Unless the bureaucracy made a conscious and determined effort to foster national unity and integrated development, parochial tendencies stemming from caste, religion, region and language raise their ugly head and threaten India’s unity and integrity.
Dr. JP, who had observed bureaucracy from close quarters for a decade and half, and made far-reaching recommendations as a member of the Administrative Reforms Commission, regretted that it had become dysfunctional, hierarchical and inward looking. “We cannot allow bureaucracy to degenerate into permanent priesthood. Bureaucrats think they belong to a higher caste order based on their entry into service and not their competence or efficiency in serving the public.”
Dr. JP said the point of entry should not dictate the growth path of an IAS official. One’s growth in career should be determined on one’s competence in delivery of high quality service. “A solution lies in lateral recruitment to all key positions in civil services and fostering of competition among the incumbents.”
“You are the servants of the people and the Constitution and not the party or politicians in power. Let public service be your motto, national unity your goal and creation of equal opportunities for growth to every child irrespective of its accident of birth in a certain caste or family, your sacred duty. Do appreciate that most children in India have not been able to realize their true potential for no fault of theirs, and do your best to go to their assistance”.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Dr. JP underlines need to restore Service Ethos in bureaucracy
Friday, June 05, 2009
Let parties field women in one-third seats: Lok Satta’s alternative
The Lok Satta Party today wholeheartedly welcomed the UPA Government move to provide for reservations to women in legislative bodies as part of its 100-day program.
Addressing a media conference, party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan recalled that that a Bill to provide for women’s reservations had been introduced many times in the last 13 years but had not been passed apparently because most parties were not serious about it.
Dr. JP pointed out that the Bill as it is conceived is seriously flawed. The Bill proposes reservation of one-third seats for women and the rotation of such reserved seats once in every general election. As a result, two-thirds of incumbents will be forcibly unseated in every general election. When male incumbents are forced out, they field their womenfolk as proxies and hinder development of natural leadership. “Such compulsory unseating violates the very principles of democratic representation and jeopardizes the possibility of any legislator choosing a constituency and nursing it. When legislators do not have the incentive to seek re-election from the same constituency, politics will become more predatory and unaccountable. The Bill in its present form is silent about women’s representation in the Rajya Sabha and the Legislative Councils. In addition, the Bill warrants a constitutional amendment.”
Studying all these, the Lok Satta had as early as 1999 presented an alternative for consideration by all political parties. It calls for an amendment to the Representation of the People Act making it mandatory for every recognized political party to field women candidates in one-third of constituencies. To prevent a party from nominating women candidates only in States or constituencies where the party’s chances of winning are weak, the Lok Satta proposes that each party should consider the State as a unit for fielding women candidates in elections to the Lok Sabha. In other words, a party has to field one-third of women candidates in every State. A party’s failure to field the requisite number of women entails a penalty. For the shortfall of every woman candidate, the party cannot field male candidates in two constituencies.
The Lok Satta Bill proposes that for reservation of seats for women in a State Assembly, the unit shall be a cluster of three contiguous Lok Sabha constituencies.
Dr, JP said that the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act should be amended to provide for reservation of one-third of seats to women in the Rajya Sabha and the Legislative Councils.
The Election Commission had endorsed the Lok Satta Bill, Dr. JP said.
Dr. JP appealed to all political parties to adopt the Lok Satta’s hassle-free and flawless proposal, and ensure adequate representation to women in legislatures.
Smt. N. Saroja devi, convenor of Mahila Satta, Party spokespersons Katari Srinivasa Rao and V. Vijayendar Reddy were also participated in the press meet.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Charges against Dr. JP malicious: Lok Satta
Frustrated over the resounding rebuff it received in the 2009 elections and worried over the exodus of its cadre into the Lok Satta, the TDP is resorting to baseless and malicious allegations against the Lok Satta and its founder Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, charged the party today.
The Lok Satta rebutted TDP leader Revanth Reddy’s allegations against Dr. JP point-by-point and said that far from realizing that its opportunistic policies and alliances had led to its debacle, the TDP was insulting voters by faulting them. The voters did not constitute the vote bank of any party and all those who voted for the Lok Satta were opposed to all other parties including the TDP and the Congress.
Talking to the media, party General Secretary G. Malyadri and spokespersons K. Srinivasa Rao, V. Vijayendra Reddy said that the TDP seemed to be unaware of the saying in Telugu that a squint-eyed person is better than a blind person. In the Lok Satta’s opinion, there was little to choose between the Congress and the TDP because they belonged to the same genre and that the voters opted for the lesser evil.
Replying to the query on Lok Satta’s track record in fighting Congress corruption, the Lok Satta leaders recalled the party had demanded the constitution of special courts to try cases of corruption when Opposition leader N. Chandrababu Naidu and Chief Minister Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy traded allegations of massive corruption against each other in the Assembly. Significantly, both the traditional parties chose not to respond to the Lok Satta demand. A fight against corruption need not involve enforcing bandhs and rasta rokos with mobilized crowds.
The credit for exposing the inadequacy of ‘Arogyasri’ – welcomed by all parties and beneficiaries --in providing health for all goes to the Lok Satta. While the Lok Satta launched a large-scale agitation against belt shops, the TDP enacted the farce of an agitation since some of its leaders themselves operated belt shops. The Lok Satta is committed to providing education of corporate college standards to every child irrespective of its caste and religion but is not opposed to corporate education. The Lok Satta did indeed field a candidate in the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat, contrary to the TDP charge. The Lok Satta did not contest in 45 Assembly constituencies including Pulivendula because it could not attract competent candidates who were prepared to fight without inducing voters with money and liquor.
The Lok Satta believes that it should strive to benefit the people to the maximum extent, whichever party happened to be in power. By being a member of the National Advisory Council, Dr. JP had played a pivotal role in the formulation of the Right to Information Act, the Gram Nyayalay Act, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission and the National Rural Health Mission. He worked closely with BJP leaders like Arun Jaitley when the NDA was in power and offered his constructive suggestions on the Bill to amend the Cooperatives Act during Telugu Desam rule in Andhra Pradesh.
Mr. Malyadri ,Mr. Srinivasa Rao and Mr. Vijayendra Reddy said that one of every three candidates fielded by the Lok Satta in the 2009 elections happened to be a BC and that the party chose SC candidates even for unreserved seats.
The Lok Satta suggested that the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly be elected unanimously and the Deputy Speaker’s position offered to the Opposition.
Monday, June 01, 2009
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.
Lok Satta launches Project 2014
The Lok Satta Party is launching Project 2014 with a view to coming to power in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections and transforming politics and people’s lives. Lok Satta is the only authentic and credible alternative to the politics of corruption and incompetence prevailing now. Among traditional, vote-buying, family - controlled parties, it doesnot matter which party is in power. Nothing changes in people’s lives as long as these parties are elected to office. Plunder, family rule, populism and poverty of ideas are their hallmarks. Perpetuation of poverty is the sad result of their failed policies and poor governance. Lok Satta alone has the will and clarity to transform politics, eradicate poverty and give power to people.
Announcing this at a media conference here today, Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan said that the party is going in for a massive restructuring to reflect the changed ground realities.
The Lok Satta Party had generated tremendous enthusiasm and support for the party in sections like the elite, middle classes, youth and women in the 2009 elections. The party, however, could not translate the support into vote because of organizational and resource constraints. At a three-day brainstorming session, the party reviewed its strengths and weaknesses and decided to restructure itself by overhauling membership criteria and co-opting people of integrity and with leadership qualities.
Dr. JP announced that pending the membership drive and elections afresh, all the elected committees now in place would become ad hoc committees. They would be restructured following a detailed district-wise review. Dr. JP disclosed that hereafter there would be three types of members: Associate members who pay Rs.2 for admission, primary members who pay Rs.25 for three years and executive members who pay Rs.100 per month. Executive members will be eligible to contest elections within the party. The party will confer honorary membership on opinion makers who have standing in society and are eager to work for changing politics and transforming people’s lives.
Dr. JP asserted that the Lok Satta is supremely confident of coming to power in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections because, unlike in elections to the Assembly and the Lok Sabha, there won’t be caste-wise polarization of voters nor will there be tactical voting. In addition, the voters would be interested in electing a party that has a clear-cit agenda and competence to solve their day-to-day problems.
The Lok Satta Party’s agenda is unparalleled in that it will straightway devolve Rs.2 crore on each divisional committee from the corporation’s resources to enable it to identify and resolve the people’s immediate needs. It will strive to persuade the State Government to make a per capita grant of Rs.1000 to each divisional committee. The divisional committees will be elected by people. The party will ensure merger of Metro Water Board and the Urban Development Authority with the Municipal Corporation for effective coordination among different authorities and speedy solution to problems pending for many, many years.
The Lok Satta will come up with a division-wise agenda with definite time schedules for implementation. Some problems will be resolved in 100 days, some in one year and some others in five years.
Monday, May 25, 2009
200 Karwan youth join Lok Satta Party
Addressing the gathering, Dr. JP called upon the youth to utilize the Lok Satta forum for contesting the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections. The Lok Satta Party alone is committed to ensuring equal opportunities to every child irrespective of its caste and religion to realize its potential.
Dr. JP pointed out that for traditional parties politics begin and end with elections while the Lok Satta concerns itself with what happens in between elections also.Mr. Nandipeta Ravinder, President, Greater Hyderabad Lok Satta unit, Mr.Dasari Ratnam, State Yuva Satta President, Mr. Ravinder Reddy and others took part in the meeting.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Lok Satta candidate, a responsible citizencompliments from old neighbours-
(Hyderabad, 26/05/2008)
Mr. Katari Srinivasa Rao, Lok Satta Party candidate to Khairatabad assembly constituency in by-elections is taking his innovative campaign to all corners of the constituency. He is getting thumping response even in Bastis. Lok Satta Party's Free Quality education and health along with local governments is really impressing people. Today Mr. Srinivasa Rao took Padayatra in Borabanda slum areas. He met his old friends in V. Ramaraonagar, where he lived some years ago. Many of the people there remembered him with pride and respect. He is a responsible citizen and very much concerned about the social problems around such as traffic, drinking water, sanitation, literacy, said one old neighbour. Srinivasa Rao is the right person for the right Party, they opined.
"I personally knew the problems in slums. If elected, I will strive to provide the basic amnities to all the Bastis on permanent basis. Let no child should be without quality education and no poor man should suffer due to burden of medical expense. We will bulid a healthy and enlightned society where every citizen can become a part of the governance" Srinivasa Rao said.
Ms. Sujatha, Mrs. Subhashini, Mr. N. Srinivasan, Mr. Prasad, Mr. Jitender, Mr. Narasimha, a large number of Lok Satta Party youth cadre participated in the Padayatra.
Dr. JP condemns violence against daily
Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan unreservedly condemned the MRPS attack on “Andhra Jyothi” as unwarranted in a democracy.
Dr. JP said in a statement that the freedom of the Press -- an extension of freedom of speech guaranteed under the Constitution -- is inviolable. .
If any one has any grievance against the media, one has many ways to express it. Since the Press or the electronic media did not enjoy a monopoly, the aggrieved party can draw others’ attention to the problem. One can ask the concerned newspaper to make amends to an objectionable report. One can go even to the Press Council of India. If one thinks that one’s reputation is sullied, one can file a case of defamation in a court of law.
However, resort to violence would spell the death knell of democracy and lead to anarchy, Dr. JP said.
Dr. JP appealed to the media to observe restraint and not glorify violence even unwittingly as heroism whatever be the circumstances.
Dr. JP’s innovative solution to reservations issue
Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today regretted that traditional political parties continued to foment hatred and clashes between castes and divide society on the issue of reservations in jobs and educational institutions without providing a constructive solution.
Dr. JP was commenting on the agitation by Gujjars in Rajasthan seeking Scheduled Tribe status for their community. Gujjars at present are treated as Backward Classes. Meenas, who are Scheduled Tribes now, are opposed to inclusion of Gujjars among their ranks. A commission appointed by the Rajasthan Government when clashes erupted between Gujjars and Meenas last year, had opposed Gujjars’ inclusion in STs.
A similar schism has developed between Malas and Madigas on the issue of reservations.
Dr. JP recalled the Lok Satta Party has proposed an innovative solution to end the problem once and for all. Without disturbing the present reservations for different classes, poor and rural candidates can be given bonus marks of 10 per cent in competitive examinations for admission to educational institutions and jobs. All the children, irrespective of their caste, shall be provided free and quality education in English for 12 years. The Government shall help all the interested and eligible to pursue higher education ranging from medicine to engineering.
LOKSATTA FIELDS ‘APARICHITUDU’
The Lok Satta Party has fielded “Aparichitudu”, a movie character, in flesh and blood to undertake a campaign against political corruption as part of its by-election campaign. Attired in black and sporting flowing hair, he makes the point that by voting for the Lok Satta Party, people can bring about changes in the polity. There is no need for an "Aparichitudu" who in the movie indulges in retribution for corruption, in a democratic setting. The road show of “Aparichitidu”, like the movie, is a resounding success and has become the talk of the town .
Monday, May 19, 2008
Whistle for Change, calls Lok Satta
The Lok Satta Party is deftly utilizing the by-elections to remind voters that they are sovereign and they can change
the future of their lives and the country by exercising their franchise.The party believes that most of the people are fed up with political corruption, inequity and injustice and bad governance. They have changed governments in the past but have not experienced any change in their lives. The players on the political scene have changed but not the political culture. As a result, the people have become cynical. The Lok Satta Party, which is pledged to ushering in a new political culture, calls upon people to use the party as a platform to realize their hopes and aspirations. The party believes that provision of free and quality healthcare and education and job-oriented skills alone will bring about a transformation in people’s lives.
The party has chosen young and highly educated professionals and entrepreneurs as its candidates in all the four constituencies going to polls – Khairatabad, Musheerabad, Secunderabad and Terlam. Party cadres had chosen them by consensus, impressed by their track record of service to society. The party did not look into their pedigree, money power or muscle power or even their caste when it opted for them.
With the election date drawing nearer, all the party candidates are engaged in a door-to-door campaign. Their main focus is on the youth, the middle classes and women all of whom feel let down in the present system and who are thirsting for an alternative.
They call upon voters to exercise their franchise without succumbing to liquor or money. Politicians of traditional parties have been perpetuating their dynasties only with their consent. “If you stop patronizing them, their citadels of power will crumble.”
The Lok Satta Party candidates carry on their campaign without any pomp or show. You don’t find huge party banners or cutouts of leaders or a cavalcade of cars anywhere. Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan undertakes road-shows in support of party candidates. His simple message is: A vote is much more powerful than a gun or a pen. Use it and unveil a new chapter in Indian politics.
The by-elections are not going to result in a change in government or in policies. But they provide an opportunity to the people to demonstrate that they have had enough of traditional parties. The Lok Satta hopes to become their lodestar.(Whistle is the election symbol of Lok Satta Party candidates).
Dr.JP’s poll campaign in Twin Cities
Mr. Bandaru Ram Mohan Rao, Election Co-oridnator, in a statement released the following schedule of Dr. JP:
May 18: Secunderabad
May 19: Musheerabad
May 20: Khairatabad
May 22: Secunderabad
May 23: Khairatabad
May 24: Musheerabad
May 26: Secunderabad
May 27: Secunderabad,Khairatabad,Musheerabad
Lok Satta is Your vehicle, Make use of it.
In Indian mythology many Gods have vehicles to rest on and in the same way, the voter being the God in democracy can rest on the vehicle of Loksatta to achieve his basic needs as a sovereign, said Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, the Lok Satta party President... In his campaign in Secunderabad to promote the party candidate Mr. M.Pradeep Kumar, he toured through Lalapet, Lakshminagar, Shantinagar, Noorpanshop, Masjid areas on Sunday.
The response to Dr. JP's roadshow and Padayatra in some areas was tremendous and very interactive. Especially women received his message with keen attention. In Lakshminagar, women complained about liquor menace in their area. Jayaprakash Narayan explained that Loksatta has taken this issue seriously and has been fighting for the eradication of liquor belt shops. And also Lok Satta was pestering the political parties not to distribute liqour in elections. But no Party is responding our appeal, he regretted. Unless you cleanup the politics, you cannot restrain the liqour menace, he explained the women.
Dr. JP appealed the voters to support a common youth Mr.Pradeep among other traditional competents, as Loksatta is for redefining politics. He asked them to vote for whistle, which is the symbol for Loksatta in the bye-elections.
Party leaders Ravi Martuth, D.Lakshmi, Vinod, Kiran Kumar, Sriman Narayan and volunteers participated in Dr.JP's campaign.
'Seeti Bajao, City Bachao
Lok Satta campaigning vigorously"The people are expressing their solidarity in a big way to the ideology of Lok Satta. We are hoping that this by-election will bring a big change in the present political system" said Mr. Srinivasa Rao.
"This year IAS topper Mr. A. Karthik also said that his role politician is Dr.Jayaprakash Narayan, whcih symboliges that the youth are in favour of Lok Satta New Political Order" he added.
Mr. Surendra Srivatsava, Ashok, Meera, Subhashini, Sujata along with other volunteers participated in the Padayatra.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Lok Satta Party in the Election Battle 2008. Read the latest issue of Lok Satta Times- May 2008 edition.
Friday, May 09, 2008
Eschew foul public debate, Appeals Dr. JP
He was commenting on the polemical exchanges between TDP leader Devender Goud and TRS President K. C. Chandrasekhara Rao, and Chief Minister Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and the TDP President N. Chandrababu Naidu, and other leaders in the recent past.
The Lok Satta always believed that politics is a noble endeavor. Elections provided an opportunity for political parties to mobilize public opinion in favor of their policies and ideas. But when politics degenerates into private business and political parties are driven by their unbridled lust for power without any agenda, they indulge in personal rivalry, disgraceful public debate and cheap diatribes unbecoming of people aspiring to be or pretending to be leaders. If public functionaries cannot become role models, they have no place in public life, Dr. JP said.
Dr. JP regretted that traditional parties and politicians seemed to believe that they could not survive without the crutches of power or the nuisance value it confers on them. Although politics is important it forms only a small part of life. Unfortunately in India, the entire society is revolving round politics and political parties are receiving disproportionate and unwarranted attention.
Dr. JP said: “Our society is facing grave short-term and long-term problems affording an opportunity to find meaningful solutions. But when parties have no agenda, they indulge in rabble-rousing and disruptive behavior. The media and society shall deprive such politics and politicians the oxygen of publicity and attention. The need of the hour is promoting a healthy and vigorous debate on education, health care, equity, employment, justice, rule of law and corruption in politics”.
Off-beat nominations by Lok Satta candidates
Accompanied by their followers attired in party T-shirts and sporting paper caps, the candidates will undertake a ‘padayatra’ to the offices where nominations are to be filed. They will carry national flags as well as party flags to drive home the party’s commitment to national interests.
Mr. Katari Srinivasa Rao, the party candidate for the Khairatabad seat, and Mr. Rohit Kumar Parasa, the candidate for the Musheerabad seat, will be filing their nominations in the forenoon of Wednesday, May 7. Mr. Maganti Pradeep, the candidate for the Secunderabad seat, will be filing his nomination on May 9.
Dr. JP wants political parties to disclose income and expenditure
Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan recalled in a media statement that his party has set an example to others by placing an audited copy of its income and expenditure on its website, although no law compelled it. It is because of its belief that the people have a right to know how the party raised its resources and spent them.
Dr. JP demanded that all political parties should follow suit in the interests of democracy. Even the Election Commission would like a law to be enacted making it mandatory for political parties to disclose their sources of funding and ways of expenditure.
In a democracy, Dr. JP said, a political party should not become the private property of some without any say for other members. The Lok Satta Party has been built as a party of the people. It chose its office-bearers and candidates to contest elections by taking the opinion of the rank and file by secret ballot. In contrast, most parties have turned dynastic, undermining democracy in the process.
Dr. JP called upon parties to heed CIC opinion that transparency in political parties’ organization, functions and their means of funding is a democratic imperative and is in public interest.
Friday, May 02, 2008
Lok Satta Party's rejoinder to Sakshi's editorial on JP and Lok Satta Party
Lok Satta Party fields young & educated in Assembly by-elections
The Lok Satta Party is ushering in new political culture by fielding young, educated professionals or entrepreneurs with a clean record and a burning desire to change the politics of the country in the by-elections to the Assembly.
The party is contesting by-elections from Khairatabad, Musheerabad, Secunderabad and Terlam.
Announcing the names of candidates the party is fielding, Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan told a media meet here today that the party is providing a platform to the silent majority to assert itself. The silent majority comprising youth, women and middle classes has been fed up with corrupt and dynastic politics but is feeling helpless in the absence of an alternative platform. The Lok Satta Party is utilizing the elections to present the alternative platform so that the silent majority can unleash a silent revolution.
Dr. JP said the party candidates do not have political Godfathers, money power or muscle power. The party rank and file have chosen them unanimously, impressed by their commitment and dedication to the nation and their impeccable background. In fact, they are people who have excelled in their professions or occupations although they belong to disadvantaged sections. The average age of the contestants is just 31.
