U.S. team interacts with TDP leaders

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, DEC. 8. A team of young political leaders from the United States has defended their system of the electoral college and not the popular vote influencing the final outcome of the American Presidential election.

Talking to reporters at the Telugu Desam Party office, members of the team said the electoral college was aimed at protecting the interests of smaller States as otherwise the candidates would confine their campaign to larger States like California. At the same time, they agreed that time was ripe for a serious debate within the U.S. about changing the electoral system.

Representing the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL), the team comprising Ms. Terrie L. Suit, Mr. Joshua Richman, Mr. James Jackson, Mr. Cleo Washington, Mr. Adrian Smith and Ms. Denise Bentley is now in India under an exchange programme. Drawn from both the Republican and Democratic Party and representing State Senates, the team earlier visited New Delhi and Ahmedabad and will leave for Karnataka on December 11 to study the functioning of the political system in India.

Their visit to the three States is being hosted by the respective ruling parties -- BJP, Telugu Desam and the Congress (I). They were received at the NTR Memorial Trust by Prof. C. Lakshmanna, who handles the party's human resource development wing, Mr. R. Chandrasekhara Reddy, spokesman, and Mr. V. Tulsiram, vice- president. A member of the team, Mr. Jackson, could not attend the meeting due to illness.

After showing them round the party office, Prof. Lakshmanna said the exchange programme provided an ideal opportunity for the TDP to highlight its organisational achievements and, at the same time, learn something new from the American team. He said the party office was built along corporate lines so that its leaders could serve people in a professional manner.

He explained how the TDP created history in 1982 by catapulting to power within nine months of coming into existence under the leadership of N. T. Rama Rao. After Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu assumed the mantle of leadership, the party had laid emphasis on development along with welfare and decided to give a boost to information technology.

Speaking for the team, Mr. Washington said ACYPL was formed in 1966 with the purpose of having exchanges with other countries. ACYPL members had visited about 50 nations in the past. The team is scheduled to meet Mr. Chandrababu Naidu at the party office tomorrow.

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