Derecognise parties abstaining from Prez polling:CLP

Hyderabad, July 16 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Congress Legislature Party (CLP) today demanded that the authorities concerned derecognise the political parties, who abstain from voting in the Presidential election.

Addressing a press conference here, Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy, along with other MLAs, said the decision of the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA), a combination of regional parties to abstain from voting in the Presidential election was 'undemocratic and unconstitutional.' The people and the authorities concerned should denounce the political parties under UNPA umbrella for their anti-democratic attitude, he said adding that the people would not accept the UNPA's decision and teach them a befitting lesson when the opportunity comes.

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

Mr Naidu, who claimed that his party had worked for the welfare of the 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 pointed out.

The Congress leader appealed to the peoples' representatives of various political parties to ignore the directions of their leaders and participate in the elections and respect the democratic process and the Constitution.

He said the leaders, who have respect for democracy and the Constitution, should participate in the voting.

UNI