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