Press Releases Archive

Ward manifesto is your Bible, Dr. JP tells contestants

Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayn told his party contestants in the GHMC elections that he would campaign only for those candidates who approach voters with a ward manifesto.

The Lok Satta Party has conceived ward manifestos which identify the problems of each ward, estimate the likely expenditure and the time frame in which they will be addressed. The Lok Satta is committed to giving powers to people directly and each elected ward committee will get Rs.2 crore to Rs.5 crore (at the rate of Rs.1000 per capita) every year to solve all local problems.

Addressing party candidates who were given ‘B’ forms enabling them to file nominations, Dr. JP said, “I don’t seek lakhs of rupees from you like other parties. All that I need is a manifesto for your division. It serves as the visa for me to enter your division and campaign for you.”

Dr. JP said people were eager change as demonstrated by voters of Kukatpally constituency, which he represents in the Assembly. The Lok Satta’s forte is its agenda as delineated in ward-wise manifestos. “Make it clear to every household and voter that the party is committed to spending Rs.750 crore through ward-level committees elected by people.” There will be a citizen’s charter with time limits for every service, and the citizen will get a compensation of Rs.100 per day for delay in delivering.

The Lok Satta President wanted his party candidates to make it plain to voters that every aspect touching their lives ranging from health and sanitation to drinking water and drainage depended on the people whom they elected in local elections. Since the local elections would not have any impact on who ruled at the State level, the people should vote for a party that would transform their lives.

Dr. JP said that the best system of choosing candidates is open primary elections. But lack of time prevented the party from organizing them. He appealed to disappointed party ticket aspirants to appreciate the situation and work for the party’s success.

Messrs. V. Ramachandraiah, V. Laxman Balaji, G. Raji Reddy, V. Vijayender Reddy and J. Krishna Rao took part in the event.

The party released another list of candidates for 14 more divisions. They are:

Muradnagar – G. Mahender
Tolichowki – B. Lakshmana Rao
Gun Foundry – Anand Goel
Rain Bazar – Mohd. Osman Khan
Old Malakpet – Ambati Ravi
Talab Chamchalam – Shaik Hyder
Kishen Bagh – Mohammed Rafiq
Bansilalpet – D. Ravinder
KPHB Colony – N. Srinivasan
Moosapet – A. Prakasa Rao
Mothinagar – Byreddy Suryanarayana
Fathenagar – G. C. Mahesh
Old Bowenpally- K. Upender Reddy
Kukatpally – Kommu Satteyya

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 - 18:00

Lok Satta challenges voting rights To ex-officio members

The Lok Satta Party today filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging the provisions in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act under which ex officio members could take part in the election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor and decide on policy matters by conferring voting rights on them.

The Lok Satta Party, represented by Mr. Katari Srinivasa Rao, said Sections 5 (1-A) and 90 of the GHMC Act are arbitrary, undemocratic and unconstitutional. They are contrary to 74th amendment to the Constitution which envisages local bodies as institutions of self-government.

As per the Act, all the 24 MLAs, Lok Sabha members and MLCs and Rajya Sabha members who have voting rights in the city – more than 60 in all -- are ex-officio members of the corporation whereas the total number of elected members is only 150.

Party leaders Katari Srinivasa Rao, G. Rajireddy and V. Vijayender Reddy told the media that enabling ex-officio members to have a say in the election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor is as incongruous as enabling MPs to have a say in the election of Chief Minister.

The GHMC Act provisions violate the letter and spirit of the Constitution in that ex-officio members who are not elected to the corporation can influence election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor by exercising their vote.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009 - 18:07

Lok Satta Party frowns upon Opportunistic alliances

The Lok Satta Party today pointed out that the proposed electoral alliance between the Congress and the PRP aimed simply at grabbing power in the GHMC without a common agenda or manifesto was opportunistic and not meant to serve public interest.

Talking to the media, party Vice-President Y. D. Ramarao and spokesman V. Laxman Balaji said if the two parties were keen on contesting together because of similarity of views, the parties might as well have merged and contested as one party.

In contrast, the Lok Satta Party had announced its election manifesto two months ago promising devolution of powers, resources and personnel on locally elected division committees.

The party’s Election Authority Chairman V. Ramachandraiah released the fifth list of party’s contestants in the GHMC elections. The divisions and the candidates are:

Attapur – K. Vijayakumari
Chintalbasti – Shahana Begum
Sultan Bazar – Akula Shyamraj Yadav
Musheerabad – M. Sunita Narender Reddy
Domalguda – K. Purnima
Khairatabad – W. Ramadevi
Banjara Hills – S. Rama Subhadra
Shapurnagar – B. Durgarao
Ramanthpur – Sampath Kumar
Uppuguda – M. Narayandas
Aliabad – K. Narsingrao
Asifnagar – P. Lalitha Sivajyothi

With this, the party has named contestants for 96 divisions.

The party announced that Katyayani will contest from Moula Ali and K. Bharat Kumar from Golnaka following changes.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009 - 17:58

Pages