JP quits electoral politics

Hyderabad: Loksatta founder-president N Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) on Tuesday announced that his party would stay away from electoral politics as it was not helping the party to serve the cause in the changed political scenario.“Loksatta was formed with a long-term vision of political reforms towards nation building. Electoral politics have become an impediment in our journey to bring about a meaningful change. Loksatta has decided to rejuvenate itself as Loksatta 2.0,” JP told The Hans India.

“With wisdom from the past and a laser-sharp focus back on its reform-based agenda, we will concentrate on political change for the nation building,” he said. When asked about his party’s failure to fit in the current day politics and backing off from the electoral politics, JP retorted, “What is success? How do you define it? Do you define only electoral gains as success? Success means change but not electoral gain,” he said.

Loksatta is talking about the change in society but not political gains. For instance, improvement in voter registration after years of struggle and relentless pursuit; political funding law in the wake of Tehelka scam; strengthening the anti-defection provisions; limiting the size of the Cabinet; Right to Information Act; National Health Mission; Local Courts Law in 2009; Autonomy for cooperatives through the 97th Constitutional Amendment; A sound Lok Pal Legislation; Cancellation of 2G spectrum licences and competitive bidding of natural resource allocation and 99th amendment of the Constitution about NJAC (subsequently quashed by the Supreme Court) were some of the achievements of the party, JP said.

When queried about the reason for Loksatta not faring in politics like Aam Admi Party even after in politics for two decades, JP said attributed the factors like income, caste, religion and media hype for AAP success and his party Lok satta’s failure in the electoral politics. In the same breath, he said, “Freebies will not help any party in a long run.”

When questioned about Loksatta supporting the BJP in 2014 general election and got into an alliance with the Left for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation election, JP said he would still support the NDA government. He said that most initiatives taken up by the Centre are very good. He said ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan’ is a great initiative if the fruits of it reached the common man. Referring to the suicide of a girl in Nalgonda when her family denied constructing a toilet, he said we have to change this.

This is what we have been talking about and Loksatta 2.0 will bring about the desired change at a faster pace, he said. Some of Loksatta’s immediate priorities are: strengthening and restructuring federalism to enable states to deliver; universal healthcare and quality education and accountability to tax payers, he said.

Explaining about entering into an alliance with the Left parties, JP said that they share common agenda for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. He said that Left parties were only political parties to share such agenda in the GHMC polls.

“We welcome all like-minded organisations, political parties and individuals to join hands as Loksatta 2.0 will take on this exciting journey to transform India”, JP said. Stating that he is ever ready to help any government in the country, JP said, “UPA is not Sonia Gandhi's estate, NDA Narendra Modi's and TRS is not KCR’s territory. It is a democratic country. I have advised previous governments and will do so in the future, whether or not the government like his advice or not.”