Press Releases Archive

“Beware of GHMC election candidates who are splurging lakhs of rupees every day on campaigning. They are in the race not to serve the public but to earn many times their investment once they are elected. For them politics is business.”

Talking to the media here today, Lok Satta leaders Mr. Babji, Mr. Laxman Balaji, Mr. Raja Reddy, Mrs. S. Manorama referred to reports that traditional parties have fielded many multi millionaires and that they are ready to spend up to Rs.2 crore to just get elected as a member of the GHMC Council.

In contrast, the Lok Satta leaders pointed out, the Lok Satta had the distinction of fielding young and educated candidates. Of the 126 Lok Satta candidates in the race, 72 are youth and 86 graduates (51 male and 35 female). It is the only party which has fielded 27 women and BCs in 52 general seats.

The Lok Satta leaders also took exception to the campaign that the Lok Satta does not deserve a vote because it is small in size. “It is not for other parties to decide whether a party is small or big. It is you, the voter. If you vote, the Lok Satta too will grow bigger.”

The party leaders also appealed to the public to judge the party by its commitment to and track record of pursuing clean politics. “We should be ashamed that we rank 84th in the Corruption Index of Transparency International. If you continue to elect traditional parties, they will perpetuate the rein of corruption.”

Lok Satta President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today asked the Congress and the TDP whether they were not ashamed of trying to win GHMC elections with liquor and money and in the process burying democracy.

Addressing the media, he called upon voters not to remain silent but revolt against the abhorrent practices of the traditional parties. They should realize that their living conditions in the city would depend on the quality of candidates they elected. The traditional parties have fielded a number of land grabbers and goondas as their candidates and are now trying to get them elected by luring the voters with money and liquor.

Dr. JP appealed to voters to exercise their franchise, without availing themselves the two-day weekend and the polling day holiday to go to their native places. “Any amount of griping after the elections in which they don’t take part and opt to elect candidates of integrity will not help them.”

Dr. JP once again said that providing voting rights to some 63 ex-officio members like MPs, MLAs and MLCs in the election of the GHMC Mayor and Deputy Mayor was blatantly unconstitutional. They cannot even attend meetings of municipal corporations in Mumbai and other cities, leave alone enjoying voting rights. In the Chennai municipal corporation and in corporations in Haryana, MPs and legislators can take part in meetings but do not have voting rights. In contrast, Karnataka shares the dubious distinction with Andhra Pradesh in providing voting rights to MPs and legislators.

Dr. JP welcomed the State Government’s decision to seek a CBI inquiry into iron ore mining by the Obulapuram Mining Company. It was in fact the Lok Satta which had first demanded such a probe to unravel the facts.

Mr. V. Laxman Balaji and Mr. Bhisetty Babji disclosed that both the TDP and the Congress had been hiring function halls under the pretext of celebrating a birthday or some other event and distributing money and liquor. They said they had received reports of such distribution from Karmanghat, Charlapalli, Kushaiguda, Uppal and Borabanda.

The Lok Satta Party would be complaining to the State Election Commission about corrupt electoral practices in a day or two after collecting more details.