In a letter to Andhra Pradesh voters on the eve of the first phase of polling, Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan appealed to them not to succumb to inducements like liquor and money or short-term sops and perpetuate the corrupt political system. All along, he pointed out, they had been changing players in election after election but found themselves falling from the frying pan into fire. “The need of the hour is a change in the rules of the game.”
Dr. JP said the elections presented a golden opportunity to voters to put an end to dynastic rule and politics of business. The Lok Satta Party, he recalled, had been formed to usher in new politics for a new generation and provided a platform to people who are fed up with the present corrupt and rotten political system. “Now is the time to act.”
Dr. JP reiterated that the Lok Satta is totally committed to providing opportunities for growth to every child irrespective of its caste and religion. It will provide quality education and health care, job skills and employment opportunities, and ensure that farmers and those engaged in traditional occupations earned higher incomes. It would form district governments and make a per capita grant of Rs.1000 to every village and ward/division and create 1250 new towns and provide livelihood opportunities to 50 lakhs of people in five years.
Dr. P. Bhaskara Rao, party spokesman, told the media that youth were coming on their own to work as booth and polling agents for the Lok Satta Party. Party activists were preventing distribution of money and liquor to voters.
Dr. JP will be casting his vote tomorrow in a polling booth near Income Tax Colony on Road No. 10, Banjara Hills, which comes under Khairatabad constituency.
