Press Releases Archive

Lok Satta releases first list of Candidates for Assembly poll

The Lok Satta Party today released the first list of 35 candidates who will be contesting the 2009 Assembly elections. The list includes 21 candidates who belong to discriminated sections including women.

Releasing the list, party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan told a media meet that active members of the party had chosen the candidates taking into account their competence, leadership qualities and passion for service.

Dr. JP said the Lok Satta welcomed public spirited candidates to contest on behalf of the Lok Sabha since it was the only party which did not evaluate candidates on the basis of their caste or religion and wealth or pedigree. No competent candidate would be denied a ticket or an incompetent one issued a ticket based on his or her caste.

Dr. JP described the coming elections as a battle between those who want to continue the current corrupt political culture and those who are determined to usher in a new political culture. The party had decided to contest all the 294 Assembly and 42 Lok Sabha seats all alone since no other party could muster the courage to declare it would not induce voters with money and/or liquor and not field criminal and corrupt elements as its candidates.

Dr. JP declared that the Lok Satta believes that true social justice is achieved only by providing quality education, health care and training in skills and job opportunities to every one without reference to his her caste or religion. In contrast, the other parties are all trying to exploit caste in the name of social justice so that a select few from their castes could be provided avenues to enrich themselves at the cost of the rest of society.

Pointing out that an overwhelming majority of people were thirsting for change, Dr. JP said he had no doubt that they would stand by ‘dharma’ in the fight against ‘adharma’.

The following are the candidates:

Constituency - Candidate

L. B. Nagar - Yenugu Rama Rao

Serilingampalli - Katari Srinivas Rao

Kuthbullapur - Nandipeta Ravinder

Musheerabad - Rohit Kumar

Jublee Hills - Mrs. Pratibha Rao

Secunderabad - Mrs. Maharani

Khairatabad - Atluri Subhashini

Amadalavalasa - Tammineni Aannam Naidu

Gajapati Nagaram - Eshwar Rao

Vizianagaram - Bhisheti Appa Rao babji

Gajuwaka - Biharilal

Anakapalli - Garimella Narayana

Jaggampeta - Mrs. Kamineni Jayasri

Prathipadu - Venkata Satyaprasad Kanchustambham

Peddapuram - Karanam Venkateshwar Rao

Undi - Gottumukkala Janakirama Raju

Pamarru - Mrs. Udiga Rajamani

Vijayawada East - Koneru Venkatapurna Basaveshwara Rao

Vijayawada Central - Mrs. Jnanamba

Penumaluru - Chennupati Vazir

Giddaluru - M. Bal Ranga Reddy

Markapuram - Chittam Venkat Reddy

Nellore Town - Narra Sridhar

Guduru - Kundurti Venkata Krishnaiah

Palamaneru - Mokati Mallikarjuna

Rajampeta - Jagan Mohan Raj

Anantapur Town - Kondeti Kondaiah

Tungaturti - Srinivasa Rao Puduri

Suryapeta - Karpuram Rajender

Khammam - Raghavulu Samineni

Wyra - Undadi Narender

Paleru - Polisetti Nageshwar Rao

Warangal West - Parcha Kondanda Rama Rao

Chennuru - Mrs. Mekala Saroja

Yella Reddy - Marri Rama Reddy

Tuesday, December 23, 2008 - 09:22

Desperate Ponnala resorting to abuse: Lok Satta

The Lok Satta Party today accused Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah of resorting to personal attacks, as he could not rebut the criticism that the Pranahita-Chevella lift irrigation scheme is economically unviable.

“It is only those who irresponsibly squander public money that harm public interest and not those who advocate prudence in Government spending”, Lok Satta Party spokesmen Katari Srinivasa Rao and B. Krishna Reddy told the media.

The Lok Satta, they made it clear, is not opposed to the provision of irrigation and drinking water to the Telangana region. It is only interested in ensuring that the money is not wasted on grandiose and unviable schemes when there are viable and better alternatives.

The Lok Satta challenged the Minister for a public debate on the project on any day and forum of his choice.

Sunday, December 21, 2008 - 08:43

Lok Satta names returning officers

The Lok Satta Party has finalized the arrangements for its organizational elections with the appointment of returning officers for all districts and the cities of Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. Mr. V. Ramachandraiah, Chairman of the Election Authority, said that nominations would be received on December 24 and 25 and elections held in the first week of January.

Following are the returning officers:

Srikakulam: A. Malleswara Rao

Vizianagaram: R. Rama Rao

Visakhapatnam: B. Krishnam Raju

East Godavari: Lakshmanacharyulu

West Godavari: K. Subba Rao

Krishna: Valluru Purnachandra Rao

Guntur: Dr. T.S Kumar

Prakasam: M. Chandrasekar Yadav

Nellore: Dr. Satyanath

Chittoor: R. MuthuKrishnan

Kurnool: Vasanthakumar

Kadapa: Rajasaheb

Anantapur: V. Vannurappa

Medak: D. Om Reddy

Khammam: R. Muralimaohan

Warangal: S. Krishna

Karimnagar: P. Kesav Rao

Nalgonda: Md. Alimuddin

Mahbubnagar: Ramachandra Goud

East Adilabad: Ch. Rajaiah

West Adilabad: L. GangaReddy

Ranga Reddy: J. Suryanarayana

Hyderabad City: J. Krishna Rao

Vijayawada City: M.S.N Murthy

Visakhapatnam City: P. Sankara Rao

Sunday, December 21, 2008 - 08:41

Embrace new political culture, Lok Satta tells Chiru

The Lok Satta Party today told Praja Rajyam Party founder Chiranjeevi that people’s lives could not be transformed without clear-cut policies and a new political culture. The party pointed out that even men of impeccable integrity and competence like Dr. Manmohan Singh and Mr. L. K. Advani could make only a little impact on the political system or the lives of people because they had to work amidst corrupt culture.

Commenting on Mr. Chiranjeevi’s appeal to people to give him a chance so that he could change people’s lives, party spokesmen Katari Srinivasa Rao and B. Krishna Reddy told the media that a mere change of players without a change in the rules of the game would be of little value. A party could usher in new political culture only when it builds itself as a people-oriented and not as a family-centered institution, is transparent in its collection and utilization of funds, does not admit criminal elements and abstains from vote buying with money and liquor. The party should aim at ensuring quality education and healthcare and job opportunities to all irrespective of caste and religion, and not for a chosen few in the name of social justice.

Sunday, December 21, 2008 - 08:38

Accessible, Affordable and Speedy Justice to the Common Man

Setting up of Local Courts/Gram Nyayalayas in India

Here is a snapshot of milestone events leading to the passing of the historic Gram Nyayalayas Bill (2008) by the Rajya Sabha on December 17th, 2008:

Time	Milestone
August, 1997	Lok Satta Movement formed for ushering in fundamental democratic reforms in India. Its key goals include establishment of local courts for speedy, accessible and affordable justice (on August 3rd, 1997). Lok Satta immediately launches pan-Indian advocacy-cum-communication campaign on the issue.
February, 2003	Lok Satta presents the draft AP Sthanika Nyayalaya Bill (2003) to the AP Bar Association. Lok Satta brings together leading jurists, civil society activists, reputed academicians and (fmr) administrators on a common platform to push forward the agenda. (February 12th, 2003, Hyderabad) Lok Satta, in consultation with the luminaries above, prepares the draft AP Nagar Nyayalaya Bill (2003) (February 25th, 2003)
April, 2005	Dr. JP (on behalf of Lok Satta) makes a presentation on Access to Speedy Justice to the National Advisory Council (NAC); submits the draft Local Courts Bill (April 21st, 2005).
July, 2005	NAC accepts the draft Local Courts Bill submitted by Lok Satta and submits it to the Union Government. Union Law Minister HR Bharadwaj announces the Gram Nyayalayas Bill, 2005 (formerly Local Courts Bill)
November, 2005	Dr. JP (on behalf of Lok Satta) proposes key revisions to the Gram Nyayalayas Bill (2005) incorporating major amendments with respect to the functional and territorial jurisdiction and improving access and justice delivery to the common citizens. December, 2005 NAC accepts Lok Satta’s amendments and communicates the same to the Union Government (December 7th, 2005).
May, 2007	Government accepts the recommendations of the NAC on Gram Nyayalayas; comes up with draft Gram Nyayalayas Bill (2007) Draft bill introduced in the Rajya Sabha and referred to the EM Sudarsana Natchiappan-led Standing Committee. Committee recommends key changes in the draft Bill to the Union Cabinet; Cabinet accepts amendments and prepares revised version. Lok Satta closely involved in all stages involving drafting and amending draft bill.
December, 2008	Gram Nyayalayas Bill (2008) passed by Rajya Sabha (December 17th, 2008; Bill XLVII of 2008) To be passed by the Lok Sabha.

Friday, December 19, 2008 - 22:01

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