HC verdict, a partial victory: Lok Satta

The Lok Satta described the interim High Court order on its petition questioning voting rights for ex-officio members in the GHMC elections as a partial victory for its stand.

Although the High Court did not stay the election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor, it directed that directly elected ward members and ex-officio members cast their votes in separate ballot boxes during the Mayoral election.

Talking to the media, party leaders Katari Srinivasa Rao, V. Laxman Balaji and G. Raja Reddy said that the party would approach the Supreme Court if the High Court verdict against it.

The Lok Satta leaders disclosed that the party was still on the look out for a suitable candidate to contest in the by-election from the Pulivendula Assembly constituency in accordance with its principled stand against dynastic politics. Mrs. Vijayalakshmi had filed her nomination as the Congress candidate in the seat which fell vacant following the death of her husband, Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

Pointing out that the party was looking for a competent candidate with leadership qualities, the Lok Satta leaders said they had not fielded a candidate in the 2009 elections too from Pulivendula as it could not locate a suitable candidate.