Beware of traditional parties’ youth mantra, Warns the Lok Satta Party

It is akin to the devil quoting the scripture, commented the Lok Satta Party on the TDP and Congress chanting the youth mantra these days.

In a media statement, Lok Satta Party Working President D. V. V. S. Varma and General Secretary Katari Srinivasa Rao counseled the youth to be on their guard since the traditional parties are not sincere or serious of practicing what they preach. They pointed out that the traditional parties remembered the youth after the Lok Satta had announced that it would give party ticket to committed and competent youth to contest elections and lead the party, irrespective of their religion and caste, region and language, economic status and sex. They are trying to masquerade their dynastic politics by claiming to empower the youth.

TDP President N. Chandrababu Naidu remembered the youth for the first time in nearly three decades when he said that he would give 30 percent of party tickets to them. That top TDP leaders are engaged in a dynastic battle is a public secret. Even if the TDP were to give 30 percent of party tickets youth, they would comprise sons and daughters, daughters-in-law or sons-in-law of TDP MLAs.

Similarly, State Congress President Botsa Satyanarayana, who had the dubious distinction of cornering all important positions in his home district for his kith and kin, was indulging in hyperbole when he claims to induct the youth into the party.

The Lok Satta leaders said both the State Congress and the TDP were trying to replicate the example of children succeeding their parents in Parliament in the name of making way for youth.

They demanded that the two traditional parties declare they would give party tickets to committed and competent youth, without reference to their political pedigree, and implement it in practice.