Date:02/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/02/stories/2008100260970500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Lok Satta to form ‘district cabinets’

Jayaprakash Narayan

HYDERABAD: The Lok Satta Party has decided to put in place ‘district cabinets’ that will monitor implementation of developmental and other programmes.

The cabinets, to be headed by a ‘prime minister’ and members directly elected by people, will prioritise works that should be taken up in their area and people will be empowered to do away with them if they indulge in irregularities.

The district panels will come into force on January 23, coinciding with Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary.

To a question on the sanctity of these cabinets, Lok Satta president Jayaprakash Narayan said at a press conference here on Wednesday, that the party was working towards ushering a change in politics and the concept of the cabinet was one such measure to bring accountability. The Lok Satta president asserted that a ‘silent revolution’ was under way and Lok Satta would be the platform through which people would convey their willingness towards a change.

Dr. Jayaprakash criticised political parties for making politics a ‘big time business’ and said they had no right to invoke the name of Mahatma Gandhi who fought for gram swaraj.

Lok Satta was organising a public meeting at Vijayawada on October 2 to mark its second anniversary.

It would be preceded by a meeting of the party’s office bearers. Dr. Jayaprakash released the audit report of the party’s accounts.