The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Lok Satta launches `Vote India' campaign

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 27, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Lok Satta launches `Vote India' campaign

Special Correspondent

It is aimed at creating awareness among people on the benefits of election on the basis of percentage of votes secured by parties rather than the number of seats

HYDERABAD: Lok Sattahas launched `Vote India', a first of its kind national campaign for political reform.

The campaign, according to `Vote India' national convener Jayaprakash Narayan, is aimed at creating awareness among the people on the benefits of election of the Government on the basis of percentage of vote secured by the political parties rather than the number of seats they secure. It would also focussing on taking the concept of direct elections to the posts of Chief Ministers rather than the present system where MLAs hold the key in the political affairs.

Announcing the launch of the campaign here on Thursday, Mr. Jayaprakash Narayan lamented that the political situation in the country had gone to such an extent that parties were being forced to take caste, creed and money considerations for selecting candidates rather than merit. "The present situation in Karnataka is a fitting example. Efforts are on to dislodge the one, who should not have been in that place, to bring another who is not fit for occupying the position," he said.

System faulted

He, however, opined that political parties alone should not be blamed for the sorry state of affairs because it was the problem with the system and not individuals. In view of this, there was a need to create confidence among the political parties that honest and committed people could also win if they were nominated.

He called upon the youth to make an in-depth assessment of the situation for understanding it instead of staying away from politics. Quoting extensively from the changes taking places in the developed countries across the globe, he said that the Lok Satta set a target of reaching out its campaign to all parts of the country by August 15, 2007, the golden jubilee year of Independence, and achieve some concrete results by January 26, 2010, the 60th year of the country becoming a republic.

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