Dr Nagabhairava Jayaprakash Narayana aka JP, a virtuoso in his own right, shut shop, the Lok Satta. Or, the shapeless amoeba-type organisation is now on the way of reverse-transformation.
JP is no longer a politician. He apparently has an unexplained liking for the word ‘former’, though the farmer always figured on the top of his agenda in his life and works.
JP, who got his name from India’s one of the tallest politicians and freedom fighters Jayaprakash Narayan, is a middle drop in more ways than one.
As a meritorious student, JP joined Guntur Medical College and pursued medical education. He became a doctor. Instead of taking forward his career to a logical end by taking up higher studies and practicing as a medical professional, he dropped the ambition midway and burnt midnight oil to secure a job in the most coveted Indian Administrative Service (IAS). Getting into the IAS with an all-India fifth rank isn’t a joke for a rural boy who pursued his schooling in Telugu medium.
Dr JP has a close understanding of lives especially in the rural India. His unquenchable thirst to do something for the farming community, the poor and the needy, has driven him to think out of the box. His virtues naturally endeared him to the people wherever he served in whatever position.
The assignments of Joint Collector and District Collector have provided the much-needed public interface for him to interact with his target audience. This has accelerated his public activity in the realm of service.
Dr JP grew in the ranks naturally. After cooling his hooves in non-focal positions, Dr JP caught the attention of N T Rama Rao when the latter led his party, the Telugu Desam, to a resounding victory in 1994. The unassuming bureaucrat was serving as the Additional Secretary to the Governor of Andhra Pradesh then.
Soon enough, he moved to his new role as Addl Secretary to the Chief Minister. Then, he grew to become the secretary there.
After Chandrababu Naidu dethroned NTR and usurped power, JP was sidelined.
Dr JP, who had seethed with anger at that time, wanted to do something drastic. But, his plans those days can be compared to the present day startups.
So Lok Satta, which was born out of anguish, and spread its tentacles all over the State, couldn’t grow beyond a point as a popular movement. It had achieved some of its goals, but failed in many others.
So Dr JP considered the idea of converting it into a political party. And, had it registered immediately. But it didn’t cut much of an ice with people.
Finally, he contested from Kukatpally Assembly constituency to derive the demographic dividend in terms of caste. The TDP left that seat to the TRS in seat sharing.
He won the seat and contributed his might to the enrichment of debates in the Assembly. He had his share of bouquets and brickbats, including an attack physically.
Well, after the State was separated, he tried to align with the BJP and the TDP. However, Dr JP had to amass a lot of negativity as people saw that more as a casteist move rather than an issue of ideology. No party came forth to dole out largesse to him. He had contested from Malkajgiri Lok Sabha seat. It was seen more as a demonstration of bravado rather than bravery.
He forfeited his deposit at the hustings. He could never recover his party from that humiliation, while the ideological pedagogy he used to arrogate to himself had gone to waste. The party split and his leadership questioned.
Now he chose to shut shop and prove to be a middle drop even in this venture.
After all, he’s happy with losing 40 points instead of giving up a full count, proving himself to be a perennial middle drop.
