Press Releases Archive

During a day-long visit to Bengaluru on Saturday, May 5, Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan will be campaigning for Dr. Ashwin Mahesh, who is contesting from Bangalore graduates’ constituency to the Karnataka Legislative Council.

The highlight of the visit is a public meeting in the evening at which Dr. JP will dwell on the question whether a single legislator can a make difference to polity. Taking part in the meeting are three non-Lok Satta people – Prof. Rajeev Gowda of Indian Institute of Management, Prof. Sandeep Shastri of Lokniti Foundation and journalist Vasanthi Hariprakash.

Dr. JP will be interacting with Lok Satta members, the campaign team and some prominent people of the city during the day.

Dr. Ashwin Mahesh, who holds a Ph. D. in Geophysics, has worked on urban development issues and is associated with a number of prestigious institutes in Bengaluru. He has played an active role in the movement for electoral reforms and against corruption.

Talking of Dr. Ashwin Mahesh, Justice Santosh Hegde, former Lokayukta of Karnataka says, “Whenever I spoke against corruption in public life, people asked me ‘where are the good candidates we can vote for?’. This time I have an answer for you. I will vote for Ashwin Mahesh and I urge you to do so as well.”

The Lok Satta Party has decided to join hands with Left parties since there is no point in replacing one traditional party with another since all of them are steeped in corruption and lost their capacity to address people’s problems, said Lok Satta Party Working President D. V. V. S. Varma in a media statement here today.

Mr. Varma hoped that the Lok Satta decision would serve as a ray of hope to all people who are now in deep despair over the present state of politics. It is time that all people who aspire for eradication of corruption and resolution of burning problems joined hands, he added.

Mr. Varma pointed out that Left parties are divided on the Telangana issue while the Lok Satta has its own stand. It is also true there are differences of opinion between the Lok Satta and Left parties on many other issues. Yet, the Lok Satta believes it can work together with Left parties on public issues over which they shared a common view. Instead of confining itself to adjustments during elections for seats and votes, the Lok Satta will continue to work with like-minded parties on ushering in corruption-free politics and resolving people’s problems, Mr. Varma added.

Mr. Varma said that the Lok Satta Party has decided to support CPI(M) candidates in Tirupati and Anantapur as the CPI(M) has decided to back the Lok Satta Party in Ongole by dropping plans to contest from it in the by-elections to the State Assembly on June 12.

The decision was taken by the Lok Satta Party's State Working Committee here today, said Mr. Varma.

As a result of the electoral adjustments, the CPI (M) will support the Lok Satta Party in Ongole, Pattipadu, Rayadurgam and Yemmiganur Assembly constituencies.

The Lok Satta Party in turn will support CPM candidates in Tirupati, Anantapur, Payakaraopet, Udayagiri and Polavaram Assembly constituencies and Nellore Lok Satta constituency.

The Lok Satta Party would consider contesting from Ramachandrapuram and Parakala in the wake of its decision not to field candidates in Tirupati and Anantapur.

Mr. Varma appealed to the CPI to back Lok Satta candidates in the by-elections, adding that the Lok Satta would support it if it fielded candidates.