Lok Satta elections historic: Dr. JP

Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan said here today that the Lok Satta Party has for the first time in 30 years of Indian politics elected its Working Committee democratically and by secret ballot.

Releasing the list of members of the party at a media conference, Dr. JP said the party constitution provided for the mandatory representation for women, SC, ST and BC communities and minorities.

The party President nominated some competent leaders to the Working Committee to ensure representation to all districts and sections.

Dr. JP told a meeting of candidates who had already been announced to contest the Assembly elections that they should fight like soldiers since elections were only 60 days away. They should be prepared to make any sacrifice needed to preserve and protect Lok Satta’s ideology. “Millions of people have pinned great hopes on the Lok Satta. People won’t forgive us if we let them down.”

Dr. JP told the contestants that they should strive for victory without waiting for any electoral alliances and raise local resources without depending on the party headquarters for assistance.

Dr. JP said that a Campaign Committee under the leadership of movie director Tammareddy Bharadwaja had been constituted.

Referring to news reports that both Chief Minister Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Opposition leader N. Chandrababu Naidu had illegally amassed wealth and helped their children through irregular means, Dr. JP wanted them to respond to the allegations. He wanted a special court to be set up to go into the allegations and confiscation of their properties, if the allegations were proved. Although both leaders appeared to be indulging in serious exchanges, both of them ultimately dodged the inquiry issue after a lengthy discussion in the Assembly last year.