Derecognise parties abstaining from Presidential polling:CLP

Hyderabad, July 16 (UNI) Terming as ''disrespect'' to women, the decision of Telugu Desam Party and its UNPA partners to abstain from voting in the Presidential election, Andhra Pradesh Congress Legislature Party (CLP) today demanded derecogintion of parties which do not vote in the forthcoming Presidential polls.

Addressing a press conference here, State Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy, along with other MLAs, said the decision of the UNPA to abstain from voting in the Presidential election was undemocratic and unconstitutional.

He said the people and the authorities concerned should denounce the political parties under UNPA for their anti-democratic attitude.

The people would not accept the UNPA's decision and teach them a lesson when opportunity comes, he saidd.

Mr Reddy alleged that Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu was responsible for the UNPA's decision. The decision of the political parties to boycott the presidential election indicated their disrespect for women in the country.

He said Mr Naidu, who claimed that his party had worked for the welfare of women, had showed his real respect for them by boycotting the election when a woman was contesting for the first time for the post of the President.

He appealed to the peoples' representatives of various political parties to disobey the directions of their leaders and participate in the polling and respect the democratic process and the Constitution.

UNI