Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan is a MLA from Kukatpally constituency in Andhra Pradesh. He represented the Lok Satta party in the 2009 elections.

Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan was a doctor, who gave up his profession and then enrolled for IAS and now has decided to be in politics. His thoughts and views are well structured and it gives us a feel as though we are listening to a businessman talk about a presentation on his products, with facts and data backing up all his statements.

I have embedded a speech given by Dr.Jayaprakash Narayan in the round table conference on Parliamentary affairs. This conference was attended by many eminent leaders such as Narayanamoorthy (from Infosys), Shyam Benegal, etc, besides many elected representatives from all over India.

In this speech, Dr.Jayaprakash Narayan speaks about functioning of a democracy and the issues that are faced in India today.

He opened his speech bringing up all the good things that we have in place in India today. He says that the four yardsticks he has mentioned below are examples of why democracy in India is actually much better than what people tend to think. The yardsticks are:

1. Competitive Elections: There is a clear electoral process where candidates can enroll, contest and canvass for themselves. This is true and I agree with Dr.JP.

2. Politicial Freedom: There is real political freedom in the country where each person is free to vote for who they want and also join any party they wish to join. I agree with this one too.

3. Winners do not punish losers: In many other countries, the person who loses the election have been jailed in the past and in some occasions even sentenced to death. In India, winners are not given the right to cause any direct harm to the losers.

I do understand that there is no direct threat, but I tend to disagree with Dr.JP here, as I know for a fact that the winners and losers mostly try to compete with each other and bring the other person down, rather than complimenting each other in their commonly published goal of doing things better for their constituencies.

4. Elected Government is truly in power: Once a government is elected, we know that they are the ones who take the decision. This is well in place in India – undisputedly agree with Dr.JP.

Democracy is illegitimized in this country that many people are tempted to look at illiberal, undemocratic solutions.

Many people believe that the rise of the unelected is better than the elected, which is dangerous for the country.

Many people think that it is their fundamental right to name the successors to various democratic positions. Judges can name their own successors, which is not allowed in any other democracy.

He goes on to talk about many key items to be considered, along with facts on why they are important.

India needs many more leaders like him. Well done, Dr.JP. Please continue to keep up the good work. Good luck to you and LokSatta.