లోక్ సత్తా పార్టీ ప్రధాన కార్యాలయం వద్ద తెలంగాణ రాష్ట్ర ఆవిర్భావ దినోత్సవం

T Formation Day at LSP Hq.

To mark the formation of Telangana State, Loksatta Party national President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayana will unveil the national flag at the party headquarters at 9-00 a.m. on Monday, June 2.

Giving this information in a media statement, Mr. Bandaru Ramamohan Rao, Convener, Telangana Coordination Committee, said that Dr. JP and other leaders will address party workers on the occasion.

ఎన్నికల్లో పార్టీ వైఫల్యానికి నాదే బాధ్యత, లోక్ సత్తా తో పాటు సమాజంలోనూ అంతర్మథనం కావాలి: జేపీ

Dr. JP owns responsibility for electoral setback

“As Loksatta national President I take full responsibility for the party’s electoral failure,” Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today, adding that the popular saying that ‘success has many fathers but failure is an orphan’ is not always correct.

Addressing a media conference here in the wake of the general election results in which the Loksatta has drawn a blank, Dr. JP said although the Loksatta enjoyed considerable respect for its advocacy of new politics, it has not earned people’s support in two general elections.

Dr. JP said that despite the electoral setback, the Loksatta is not running away from politics. For the last 18 years, the Loksatta movement, the Foundation for Democratic Reforms and the Loksatta Party have carried on a relentless struggle to change the nature of politics and succeeded in bringing about a number of epoch-making reforms. It has laid the ideological foundation for the change in the political thinking of a number of politicians ranging from Narendra Modi to Arvind Kejriwal.

Yet, the party has not been successful in garnering votes in elections; Dr. JP conceded and said that a party’s success does not depend solely on the competence of its leadership. It requires leaders at all levels, innumerable volunteers who are prepared to spare their time, and financial resources, besides media support. All these will be forthcoming only when society is ready for real change.

Dr. JP said that the party will consider the options before it after deep introspection at both State and national levels. Whatever be the options, there will not be any change in its commitment to provide quality education, healthcare, skill and employment opportunities to all, economic development, good governance, decentralization of power and eradication of corruption.

Dr. JP said that people too should introspect as to why there has been no change in their lives all these years. No Government, after all, has assumed power without their consent. If they simply blame the Government for their misery without shouldering the responsibility for electing it, they will be indulging in collective hypocrisy. Poisonous seeds cannot yield edible fruit. If elections are largely won on money power, caste and regional divisions, freebies and dynastic succession, then there cannot be good governance. The media too should introspect whether it has striven to promote right thinking among people. Sections of media for the last couple of months have fought to get their favorite parties elected and not in public interest.

Dr. JP said that all political parties should learn lessons from the outcome of the just concluded general elections. For the first time after 1971, people have given a decisive mandate to the NDA led by Mr. Narendra Modi because he stood for reviving the economy, creating jobs and providing good governance. Mr. Narendra Modi has been given the golden opportunity to transform the country both politically and economically. He should display courage and commitment and help people realize their dreams. All parties should refrain from obstructionist politics and help Mr. Modi to work for them.

Congratulating the TRS and the TDP-BJP combine which have come to power in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh respectively, Dr. JP said that the parties have not followed the Modi path in their ascension to power. They resorted to the traditional tools of promoting regional or caste animosities or offering sops and freebies to gain votes. Now that elections are over, Dr. JP hoped, the two ruling parties will focus on creating jobs and fulfilling people;s aspirations.

State party leaders Katari Srinivasa Rao, P. Ravi Maruth, Y. D. Rama Rao and Omkar took part in the media conference.

Modi victory a seminal event: Jayaprakash Narayan

Narendra Modi's ascension to the Prime Minister's throne is a seminal political event in the history of India — only the fourth since Jawaharlal Nehru's demise — feels Lok Satta chief Jayaprakash Narayan. And while the three previous occasions, he categorically states, were "largely wasted", JP believes that this one will certainly prove to be different.

"The first was in 1971 (Indira Gandhi's victory), the second in 1977 (when Emergency was dismantled) and the third in 1984, when an emotional outburst following Mrs Gandhi's assassination made way for Rajiv Gandhi to step in. Though all these events could have transformed India, they did nothing," he says. He also makes a mention of 1991, which "proved to be important economically", but he adds that "there was no real political mandate."

This time, the bureaucrat-turned-politician is hopeful of that happening. For, he believes that Modi and his team can "legitimately claim to have the mandate that is required to change the economic trajectory of India and create more jobs". "He [Modi] has primarily focused on employment and economic growth. His victory should be seen as the victory of this developmental approach and not the victory of any sectarian ideology," JP insists. And while reiterating the need for economic growth and job creation, he also draws attention to the lack of infrastructure, investment and poor state of the country's manufacturing sector. "My genuine hope and belief is that this (Modi's victory) will lead to a change," he says.

This faith in the soon-to-be Prime Minister, the veteran says, is also rooted in Modi's "repeated and public announcements" of addressing issues that his party has been highlighting since its inception. "From the beginning, we have been clear that we need four things. Firstly, a strong graded anti-corruption regime. Secondly, some serious judicial and police reforms so that the rule of law becomes the norm and not an exception. Thirdly, empowerment of local governments, particularly urban local governments, so as to make them work effectively and fourthly, overhauling of the political system so as to make the right kind of people electable and put a stop to buying of votes. Modi assures to address them all," he says.

What the new government at the Centre would also be expected to look into, according to JP, is the "reordering of public expenditure so as to increase the share of productive expenditures as opposed to freebies". "In Telangana, for instance, all parties have over-committed themselves on freebies (loan waivers etc) even before coming to power. But as a new state, which incidentally has surplus money, we need to use the funds constructively," elaborates the senior politician, who played a significant role in laying the economic foundation of both Telangana and Seemandhra.

"Unless we do that along with improving skills and making our labour policies, which are right now calculated to prevent employment, more flexible, we cannot address the issue of unemployment. We need to bring a lot more people into the formal organized sector as against increasing the number of contractual labourers," he adds.

It is for this "possibility of a fundamental change after 30 years (since 1984)" that JP feels all parties should "bury their hatchet" and come together. "Given that people have spoken so convincingly, I think we should provide all round support to the new government. As long as they fulfill the mandate, we must not take great delight in being obstructionists. If they deviate, then certainly all of us must oppose," he points out, though hinting at being almost certain of Modi & Co delivering what is expected of them.

JP is also sure of peace and harmony despite the rise of the right wing. "Over the last one year, Modi and his party have stayed away from a religious agenda. He hasn't emphasized on religious differences and has, instead, spoken the language of unity. Of course, we should be alert, but I think we can be certain of a secular progressive development-oriented agenda," the leader maintains.

Courtesy: Times of India