Saturday, March 21, 2009

Can't trust politicians, Mumbai group forms own party

Mumbai: This public outpouring of sentiments after 26/11 was unprecedented but if you thought that Mumbaikars forgot about it later, you are mistaken.

They are the group of middle class professionals who are members of a new political party-Jaago working out of their residences.

These are ordinary Mumbaikars who have decided to contest the elections.

"26/11 was like a big trigger to stop procrastinating and get into it and not wait for a perfect time when everything will be right," says, activist and candidate, Jaago party, Rishi Agarwal.

The Loksatta political party, floated by a well known NGO, is also fielding its own candidates in Mumbai and Andhra Pradesh.

The party has already started a campaign and wanted to propagate its ideology and is in the process of declaring the final list of candidates.

"We are practicing and preaching inter party democracy. All our candidates have been elected by the members through a secret ballot,” says, resident, Loksatta Maharashtra, Surendra Srivastava.

While the efforts of these new candidates are being appreciated, activists say that true change can only be brought if citizens themselves participate in the electoral process and also have a say in the choice of candidates.

"Once people will participate, they will get to know the functions, how they work and once they know that they can demand accountability," says citizen nominated corporator, Adolf D'souza.

The real test of these new leaders would however start only once they are elected.

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