Narayan urges people not to succumb to inducements during byelection

Hyderabad, May 13 (UNI) Lok Satta president Jayaprakash Narayan today urged the people of Andhra Pradesh not to succumb to inducements like liquor or cash when they exercise their franchise in the May 29 byelections to 18 Assembly seats and four Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Addressing a meet-the-press programme here, organised by the Andhra Pradesh Working Journalists' Federation, he said Indian voters were intelligent and wise.

Recalling the 1977 elections, in which the Congress was defeated, he pointed out, ''money and liquor were at play even then but the voters did not fall a prey to them.'' Lambasting the Congress and the TDP for allegedly entering into a deal not to fight each other in Khairatabad and Terlam Assembly constituencies by choosing the kin of the deceased MLA as their candidate, he wondered whether the elections were meant to perpetuate the dynasties of some leaders.

Stating that leaders in the past had sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country and did not try to promote their kin, he cited the example of how Tanguturi Prakasam, who earned lakhs of rupees as an advocate and served as Chief Minister thrice. He died in penury while his grandson worked as a servant in the Prakasam district collectorate.

UNI VA GKT SP RN1900