Hyderabad, April 27: Claiming that the Election Commission of India had miserably failed in curbing money power in elections, the Lok Satta Party today suggested that direct election of heads of Government at the State and local levels and a switch over to proportional representation for election of all MLAs and MPs would help prevent misuse of money power. Talking to media, Party leaders V Laxman Balaji, G Raja Reddy and V Vijayendar Reddy claimed candidates contesting Legislative Council from local bodies constituencies are prepared to spend up to Rs 15 crore merely “reflected the depths of depravity to which politics in Andhra Pradesh have plunged. ”Money power has become ubiquitous under the first-past-the-post system because the marginal vote influences the election outcome. “A legislators primary job is to attend to legislative work.
“Unfortunately most of our legislators are least interested in it.
Their sole aim in getting elected is to enjoy the privilege of influencing the executive by virtue of their position.” On the State Governments move to increase the management quota in professional colleges from the present 30 to 40 per cent, the Lok Satta Leaders said they could understand governments anxiety to limit the outgo on fee reimbursement and grant of scholarships. As of now, the State has allocated only Rs.2300 crore against the needed Rs 3,490 crore. The Lok Satta leaders said the Government could reduce its burden if it facilitates liberal education loans to all economically and socially weaker sections and subsidizes the interest burden based on the students attendance and academic performance.
—–Agencies