Lok Satta (party)
Encyclopedia
Lok Satta is a political party
in India founded by Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan
. Launched on October 2, 2006 by the Lok Satta voluntary organization
. Loksatta Movement fought for administrative and political reforms in the last 10 years including constitutional amendments to eliminate defections, reduce the size of cabinet, Right to Information Act (RTI), disclosure of criminal records and assets by all candidates and many more . The party has opted for the whistle
symbol for the 2009 elections
.
, is a former IAS
officer of the 1980 batch and a democratic reformer from Andhra Pradesh
, India
. He quit his job in 1996, and worked on various democratic movements towards educating the people about governance and politics before starting the party.
Vijay Anand heads the party in Tamil Nadu. Surendra Srivastava
heads the party in Maharashtra state.
in Andhra Pradesh
and later spread across the country, including Mumbai
with the Vote JUHU campaign and Vote Mumbai. Lok Satta organization worked on bringing about several political reforms in over ten years by working with other civic organizations. Lok Satta Party was founded with the realization that entering direct politics is the only option to bring about fundamental changes in our systems and a new political culture. It grew rapidly, and had over 30,000 members in Greater Hyderabad region and over 6,00,000 members in Andhra Pradesh
before it became a political party.
s, PIO
s and other supporters living outside India. It is registered in United States as a 527 organization.
In addition to organizing various activities to strengthen Lok Satta party, People For Lok Satta has taken the initiative to lead the NRI Voting Rights campaign, Kill Corruption campaign and Dandi March II.
seats that the party contested, it was able to win the Kukatpally
Assembly Consituency, where it fielded Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan
with a majority of over 15,000 votes over its nearest Congress(I) rival. Loksatta emerged as a significant political party by securing 1.9% of the vote across the state and 6.4% of vote in urban areas.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in India founded by Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan
Jayaprakash Narayan (Lok Satta)
Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan , widely known as JP, is a noted Indian politician, social reformer, TV commentator and columnist. He is the President of Lok Satta Party and currently a Member of the Legislative Assembly from Kukatpally constituency in Andhra Pradesh.http://www.loksatta.org/cms/index.php?...
. Launched on October 2, 2006 by the Lok Satta voluntary organization
Voluntary association
A voluntary association or union is a group of individuals who enter into an agreement as volunteers to form a body to accomplish a purpose.Strictly speaking, in many jurisdictions no formalities are necessary to start an association...
. Loksatta Movement fought for administrative and political reforms in the last 10 years including constitutional amendments to eliminate defections, reduce the size of cabinet, Right to Information Act (RTI), disclosure of criminal records and assets by all candidates and many more . The party has opted for the whistle
Whistle
A whistle or call is a simple aerophone, an instrument which produces sound from a stream of forced air. It may be mouth-operated, or powered by air pressure, steam, or other means...
symbol for the 2009 elections
Indian general election, 2009
India held general elections to the 15th Lok Sabha in five phases between 16 April 2009 and 13 May 2009. With an electorate of 714 million , it was the largest democratic election in the world to date.By constitutional requirement, elections to the Lok Sabha must be...
.
The Founder
Its founder Dr. Jayaprakash NarayanJayaprakash Narayan (Lok Satta)
Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan , widely known as JP, is a noted Indian politician, social reformer, TV commentator and columnist. He is the President of Lok Satta Party and currently a Member of the Legislative Assembly from Kukatpally constituency in Andhra Pradesh.http://www.loksatta.org/cms/index.php?...
, is a former IAS
Indian Administrative Service
The Indian Administrative Service is the administrative civil service of the Government of India. It is one of the three All India Services....
officer of the 1980 batch and a democratic reformer from Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He quit his job in 1996, and worked on various democratic movements towards educating the people about governance and politics before starting the party.
Party Leaders
D. V. V. S. Varma is the Working President, Katari Srinivasa Rao is the General Secretary and Bhisetti Babji is the Vice President for Andhra Pradesh State.Vijay Anand heads the party in Tamil Nadu. Surendra Srivastava
Surendra Srivastava
Surendra Srivastava born on 18 August 1958 in Delhi, India, led Lok Satta Movement in Maharashtra. He is now heading the Lok Satta Party in Maharashtra State. He is a corporate executive by training, in public service by choice, and a democrat by conviction. He had remarkable journey from clerk to...
heads the party in Maharashtra state.
Agenda
Lok Satta has a variety of political goals, including political, economic, and social equality for all people; making citizens the centre of governance, and to reform the government to make it less corrupt and more accessible and responsible to the people.Emblem
The Party flag also serves as the Party logo. The flag is in the form of a rectangle of dark blue colour and bearing a pure white circle, centered in which is a five-pointed star of the same colour as the rectangle. The dark blue colour symbolizes the vastness, depth and inclusive nature of the ocean in which all streams finally merge. The white colour of the circle stands for purity. The colour symbolizes unity of purpose and action amidst the diversity in religion, region, caste, language and beliefs. The five-pointed blue star signifies that the party sets its course by the twinkle of the distant star, and not by the lights of passing ships. The five corners of the star stand for the five pillars of a true democracy:- Liberty
- Self-governance
- Citizen empowerment
- Rule of law and
- Self-correcting institutions.
As a non-governmental organization
Lok Satta started as a citizen movement "Lok Satta Andolan" or Lok Satta MovementLok Satta Movement
Lok Satta is a non-partisan movement for democratic reforms in the country of India, led by Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, a former I. A. S. officer and renowned activist from Andhra Pradesh, India. The movement was started in 1996 with the founding of Lok Satta, a non-governmental organization...
in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
and later spread across the country, including Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
with the Vote JUHU campaign and Vote Mumbai. Lok Satta organization worked on bringing about several political reforms in over ten years by working with other civic organizations. Lok Satta Party was founded with the realization that entering direct politics is the only option to bring about fundamental changes in our systems and a new political culture. It grew rapidly, and had over 30,000 members in Greater Hyderabad region and over 6,00,000 members in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
before it became a political party.
As a political party
Lok Satta Party is now in several other Indian states including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.People For Lok Satta
People For Lok Satta (PFL) is a nonprofit political organization that advocates Lok Satta Party amongst NRINon-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin
A Non-Resident Indian is an Indian citizen who has migrated to another country, a person of Indian origin who is born outside India, or a person of Indian origin who resides permanently outside India. Other terms with the same meaning are overseas Indian and expatriate Indian...
s, PIO
Non-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin
A Non-Resident Indian is an Indian citizen who has migrated to another country, a person of Indian origin who is born outside India, or a person of Indian origin who resides permanently outside India. Other terms with the same meaning are overseas Indian and expatriate Indian...
s and other supporters living outside India. It is registered in United States as a 527 organization.
In addition to organizing various activities to strengthen Lok Satta party, People For Lok Satta has taken the initiative to lead the NRI Voting Rights campaign, Kill Corruption campaign and Dandi March II.
Leadership
The Executive Board of People For Lok Satta is composed of:- Prasanna Meda, President
- Dilip SankarreddyDilip SankarreddyDilip Sankarreddy is the winner of World Bank India Development Marketplace Award in 2007 for innovating and providing a human-power based lighting solution "Swavalamban Mono Wheel Generator" to nomadic and tribal people in more than 120 rural locations in India.-Social Work:Dilip Sankarreddy...
, Vice President - Finance - Kiran Indukuri, Vice President - Membership
- Dinesh Pagadala, Vice President - Media
- Jawahar Kambhampati, Vice President - Projects
- Hyma Sagi, Vice President - Events
2008 Andhra Pradesh Assembly by-elections
Lok Satta party contested in 2008 in the Assembly by-elections for the first time, and was able to secure second place in one of the four places it contested from. Lok Satta party was able to gain 10% votes.2009 Andhra Pradesh Assembly and General elections
Of the 249 Andhra Pradesh State AssemblyAndhra Pradesh State Assembly
The Andhra Pradesh Legislature is the state legislature of Andhra Pradesh. The Andhra Pradesh legislature has been both unicameral and bicameral in its history.-State legislature:The Andhra Pradesh Legislature is currently bicameral....
seats that the party contested, it was able to win the Kukatpally
Kukatpally
Kukatpally is a major residential and commercial suburb in Ranga Reddy District, India. It is located on the northwest fringe of Hyderabad city...
Assembly Consituency, where it fielded Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan
Jayaprakash Narayan (Lok Satta)
Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan , widely known as JP, is a noted Indian politician, social reformer, TV commentator and columnist. He is the President of Lok Satta Party and currently a Member of the Legislative Assembly from Kukatpally constituency in Andhra Pradesh.http://www.loksatta.org/cms/index.php?...
with a majority of over 15,000 votes over its nearest Congress(I) rival. Loksatta emerged as a significant political party by securing 1.9% of the vote across the state and 6.4% of vote in urban areas.