(S.Ravi Seshu)
Having tasted the rough and tumble of electoral politics, Lok Satta founder Dr.Jayaprakash Narayan, who loves to describe self as ‘a physician by training, public servant by choice, and democrat by conviction, now focused on the academic side of democratic reforms.

The 60-year-old JP, an IAS of 1980 batch, launched a campaign for Foundation for Democratic Reforms (FDR), a think-tank and scientific research-resource center for studying, formulating and promoting fundamental reforms in political, electoral and governance spheres and in critical areas of state policy. Dr JP, a former MLA of Kukatpally constituency, former member of National Advisory Council and Second Administrative Reforms Commission, took to twitter to appeal for donations in the capacity of FDR’s General Secretary.

“Big Ideas need big support” reads the headline of a card in which he mentioned four key agendas, namely 1) Direct Election for Chief Minister position 2) Service Guarantee Act 3) Police and Judicial Reforms, and 4) Healthcare Reforms. It also carried JP’s pleasant photograph and bank account details to help people transfer funds.

FDR, which claimed to have been started in 1996, takes up the following three works:

• Research and Analysis of the functioning of democratic and constitutional institutions in India towards formulating and promoting political and governance reforms. This includes the scientific study and analysis of electoral, administrative, judicial reforms and related. This includes the study of best practices and systems from across the world.
• The study, formulation and promotion of state/public policy alternatives in critical areas, compatible with the FDR’s reform goals.
• Collaborative research and advocacy efforts with like-minded research institutions, individuals and civil society organizations towards realizing the first two objectives; promoting the capacity building of individuals, institutions and organizations in these areas.

While Dr JP is the GS, Mrs.Prathibha Rao, Mr.Surendra Srivastava, Mr.Venkat Akkineni, Mr.Vinod Poddar, Mr.Anil Kumar Epur act as members of the Foundation.

JP, who contested for Malkajgiri parliamentary constituency in vain in 2014, had dropped enough indications that he would stay away from electoral politics in recent times.