JP for electoral reforms, bats for direct election for CM

Lok Satta Party founder Dr. Jaya Prakash Narayan said that the electoral reforms were long due in the country.

Speaking at a political symposium on political reforms and money power in elections at Kothapeta in Guntur on Sunday, the former MLA said that the money power was still playing havoc in the electoral process in the country and was a great threat to the democratic spirit.

Jaya Prakash said that except for a few state, money and liquor played a crucial role during elections as political parties indulged in distributing money and liquor to the people to their votes. He also opined that there should be direct elections to the Chief Minister and this would result in greater transparency and also lower the money power during the elections. He also said that the local bodies should be strengthened in order to extend the benefits of the development reach the masses.

CPI leader M. Nageshwar Rao presided over the symposium. (INN)