The Anna effect: Citizens' group to fight Pune civic elections

Pune Municipal Corporation building

Pune:  Inspired by social activist Anna Hazare's endeavour to rid society and politics of corruption and yoga guru Baba Ramdev's dream of a clean socio-political scenario, people from various walks of life have come together to form a forum called Pune Nagrik Sanghatana (PNS). It is learnt that the forum will take part in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) election and the official announcement in this regard is expected in the next two days.

The new forum is getting support from intellectuals, educationists, former politicians, journalist-editors and RTI activists. PNS is, in a way, a revival of the Nagri Sanghatana established by the editor of a local Marathi daily in 1968 for clean and fair politics.

"We are inspired by the Nagri Sanghatana and are, in a way, renaming it by the addition of the word 'Pune'," said 72-year old Ramesh Agarwal, coordinator of PNS. The forum has had four meetings in the past two months and has already got support from former IAS officers Arun Bhatiya and Avinash Dharmadhikari, the industrialist Firodiya brothers, and former mayors Ankush Kakade and Shantilal Suratwala.

RTI activist Vivek Velankar, educationist Dr S B Muzumdar, former union minister and environmentalist Mohan Dhariya and veteran journalist Dwarkanath Lele are also supporting the forum. "We are appealing to all those supporting us to submit their confirmation letters soon. PNS has already got popular with many Punekars and even members of other political parties," said Agarwal.

"We are putting up 30 to 40 candidates by confirming their credentials and their good character by taking interviews." Col Jayant Chitale (Retired), founder president, Maharashtra Military Foundation, who is preparing the PNS manifesto, said he would not be contesting the civic election but was helping the PNS prepare for it.

"We are bringing together good and intelligent people who want to make Pune a better place to live in in the future. We are creating transparency in our system and promoting people with good character for the election," said Chitale.