Lok Satta to contest all six Mumbai parliamentary seats

With an eye on ensuing Lok Sabha elections, the Andhra Pradesh-based Lok Satta Party on Thursday announced its plans to contest all the six parliamentary seats of Mumbai.

National president of the party Jayaprakash Narayan, former IAS officer, addressing a press conference, here, announced the party plans and formation of Maharashtra chapter of Lok Satta.

“The future of Mumbai is linked to India and Lok Satta Party looks forward to contest general, state assembly and corporation elections from Mumbai,” Narayan said replying to a question why he chose the Mumbai.

Courtesy: Andhra Rajakeeyam

Dr.JP, D.V.V.S.Varma and Maharani to Contest for President

Lok Satta party will contest all the 294 Assembly seats and may go it alone in the ensuing Assembly elections, said State unit secretary Bandaru Rammohan Rao.

He said his party was ready to join hands with any party that said no to distribution of money and liquor to get votes and also to candidates with criminal background. The party tried to come to an understanding with the Left parties, but in vain. "There is no response from them and hence we have decided to go it alone," he said.

Mr. Rammohan Rao, who was here to oversee the organisational election, said unlike other parties which turned out to be personal fiefdoms and family-run organisations, the Lok Satta decided to hold elections to all its offices, including that of the State unit head.

"There are two persons in fray for the post now being held by Jayaprakash Narayan. Our general secretary D.V.V.S. Varma and Maharani are contesting for the post. Some more contestants may come forward before the polling begins on January 4," he said.

The Lok Satta is holding elections at village, mandal and district level to elect unit heads.

About 10,000 members of the party will elect their mandal and district unit presidents, said district unit president Parcha Kodandarama Rao.Presently, the party is organising mandal-level training camps for ordinary and active members on the organisational elections.

Karnool Staff Reporter writes: General secretary of Lok Satta D.V.V.S. Varma has said the party will go it alone in the next election in the state to save its image. Mr. Varma told The Hindu that the party had come to a conclusion that it would be at the receiving end if it had truck with any party.

The Lok Satta would be accountable for all the mistakes of allies if it had truck.He said most of the parties had converted election into a short-term business wherein they could invest some money in the election and earn later. On the other hand, some of the parties were run as family business ventures with only the close members of the family being at the helm.

He said in the next election the entire family would be on the streets pleading for the votes for its kin. All people's issues would be pushed under the carpet.

He said the government was reducing the voters into alms-seeker by introducing doles.

He said the governments were not thinking of providing quality education and health to public. Mr. Varma was confident of his party entering assembly this time irrespective of the number of seats it was going to win.

The party would continue to fight for its agenda of uniform education and reforms in the areas of police, justice and local self-governments.

He said the party would conduct its organisational elections next month in true democratic spirit and allowing any number of candidates to contest for president post.

Courtesy: Andhra Rajakeeyam

Reject corrupt, dishonest politicians: Lok Satta

Lok Satta Party president N. Jayaprakash Narayan on Sunday gave a forceful call to the youth and the middle-class people to help bring about change in the present political system by electing truly honest, non-corrupt and trustworthy leaders.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Narayan asserted that a question of self-respect and a little soul-searching was posed to everybody now with voters being viewed as purchasable commodities during elections. “Shall this continue? Can’t you bring a change? If you can’t do it now, then you have no right to go on complaining against the system,” he said.

Mr. Jayaprakash Narayan appealed to what he described as good sense of the people, saying that there was no use if the people continued to express surprise rather than act to stop the corrupt politicians.

He advised the youth and the middle-classes to stop “acting” and start doing what was required to provide a right answer to the present ills of polity.

Mr. Jayaprakash Narayan asked the people whether they would prefer to stand as a mute witness to the continuation of a political system that wanted to welcome only those would be able to spend Rs. 5 crore to Rs. 10 crore in an Assembly constituency for the elections. “It is a question whether you are ready for changing this system. The time has come for action,” he said.

Stating that the present political bosses were not ready to change, Mr. Narayan asked whether the voters would not feel ashamed to continue electing such untrustworthy politicians to positions of power in this country. He asserted that it was only Lok Satta Party that brought before the people a unique agenda that provided solutions to all these problems.

Mr. Jayaprakash Narayan felt that the political system seeking to stick to power through electoral corruption was worse than the terrorists who struck in Mumbai. He expressed concern that to a large extent, the terrorists managed to gain entry into the country by offering bribes at every level, which exposed the vulnerability of the entire system.

He suggested making of tough laws even to the extent of placing the burden of proof on the accused so that terrorists would be taught serious lessons.

Courtesy: AndhraRajakeeyam

Lok Satta flays Ponnala for remarks

The Lok Satta district unit leaders staged a protest at the Ambedkar statue here on Tuesday condemning the remarks made by Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah against Jayaprakash Narayan.

Sporting banners and raising slogans, they staged a demonstration. Lok Satta district president P. Kodandarama Rao accused Mr. Lakshmaiah of resorting to mudslinging and trying to malign the character of Mr. Narayan.

“The Minister should answer to the doubts of people in a democratic way democracy rather than divert people’s attention by resorting to mudslinging.

He should explain how the lift irrigation projects are feasible,” Mr Rao said. The Lok Satta party demanded that the Minister come out clearly on the feasibility of Pranahita-Chevella project. The project was aimed at hoodwinking the people on the eve of elections.

As remarked by Mr. Lakshmaiah, the Lok Satta chief never objected to the lift irrigation projects in the State during his career as civil servant. “Mr Narayan has unblemished record as a civil servant and as a social worker now. Making uncharitable remarks against such a person is totally condemnable,” Mr Rao said.

Courtesy: Andhra Rajakeeyam

Provide free, quality education to all : Lok Satta

Cautioning the Andhra Pradesh Government against extending reservations in educational institutions and Government jobs beyond the present 50 per cent limit, the Lok Satta party today said it should instead provide free and quality education to all irrespective of caste, religion or financial status upto 12th standard.

The party's Working Committee, chaired by party President Jayaprakash Narayan, alleged that the state government was trying to gain political mileage ahead of the elections by dangling the carrot of more reservations for various communities.

"The Government would have to squarely shoulder the responsibility for any untoward events if it went ahead with its foolish move," it said.

Pointing out that there was discontent even among those enjoying reservations as the benefits were cornered by a few as evident from the Mala-Madiga and Gujjar-Meena confrontations in Andhra
Pradesh and Rajasthan respectively, Dr Narayan said a solution to the reservations issue does not lay in more reservations.

The problem would fade away if the government provided free and quality education to all irrespective of their caste, religion or financial status up to the 12th standard with English and computer studies as part of the curricula and enable all the desirous and deserving to pursue higher education, including professional courses at state cost, the committee said.

Courtesy: andhrarajakeeyam.com

Kadapa polls rigged: Congress spokesman

In a candid admission that could seriously embarrass the ruling Congress, its spokesman N Tulasi Reddy said here today that only those candidates, who could rig, win elections in Kadapa district –– the home district of no less a person than Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy.

Speaking at a meeting organised by the Liberty Institute, he said, "in fact, all the winning candidates there owe their victory to rigging. All parties are searching for contestants who can rig polls in Kadapa district." He made these comments in the presence of Chief Electoral Officer IV Subba Rao. The Congress spokesperson further observed, "I have been involving myself in election process since 1983.

Earlier, candidates used to purchase voters wholesale by constructing churches or temples. Now, they are purchasing individual voters." When a participant sought to know if they were his personal observations or those of his party, Tulasi Reddy failed to reply prompting the other speaker, Lok Satta leader Jayaprakash Narayan, to quip: "As a party spokesman, his mind speaks. On occasions like this, his heart speaks."

Courtesy: Andhra Rajakeeyam.