Anti Corruption Movement by Lok Satta Party

The Lok Satta Party will launch a movement from August 10 to December 9 to spread awareness among at least a crore of people on the need to end corrupt rule and usher in good governance. The dates are significant in that August 10 follows the Quit India Day observed on August 9 and December 9 is World Anti Corruption Day.

Addressing media at the conclusion of the two-day meeting of the party's State Working Committee, Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan said that to usher in good governance, the prerequisites are empowerment of people through decentalization, giving top priority to education and healthcare, restriction of liquor consumption, making agriculture remunerative and eradicaing poverty so that every citizen can live with self-respect.

The Lok Satta Party, Dr. JP said, would launch a campaign to enlist active party members from July 1 to Septemer 30, publish the party members/voters' list on October 31, and announe the organizational election schedule on November 15. Elections would be held from the village to the State level units under the superivision of an independent election authority. Such direct elections to the party were held for the first time in 2009.

Dr. JP said that with parties both at the State and national levels becoming the private estates, a common person however competent he or she is has no chance of coming up in a party. In contrast, ordinary people like Barrack Obama in the U. S., Angela Merckel in Germany and Cameroon in the U. K. rose to eminence with their talent and are leading their countries.

Dr. JP appealed to people to use the Lok Satta Party as their platform to grow in politics and serve the country. "You need not be the son or daughter of a political leader or rich and wealthy. It is enough if you have talent, honesty and an inclination to serve society."

Dr. JP made it clear that those who try to rig elections to be held by secret ballot by forming syndicates or lure voters on the basis of caste, religion, language and region will be disqualified from contesting.

Dr. JP reiterated that he would not be in the race for the post of the President of the Andhra Pradesh unit and added he would continue to be the party's national President. Up 50 percent of party posts would be allocated to women, SC, ST, BC and minoirty candidates. Preference would be given to youth in the organization.

In reply to a question, Dr. JP said that the Lok Satta Party has decided to work with Left parties with the twin objectives of providing an honest alternative to the traditional parties in Andhra Pradesh and striving at the national level for introduction of proportional representation in elected bodies. Despite ideological differences, the Lok Satta and the Left parties had similar agendas.

Replying to a question on Rayala Telangana, Dr. JP said that the Lok Satta would welcome Telangana emerging as part of a comprehensive and amicable solution after thorough discussions.

Dr. JP expressed serious concern over the continuing power crisis in Andhra Pradesh and frequent industrial accidents.

Party Working President D. V. V. S. Varma and Working Committee member J. Irama Murthy took part in the media conference.