Anna-inspired NGOs enter political ring

Inspired by Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement, non-government organisations (NGOs) and civic organisations in the city have formed an alliance, Pune Nagrik Sanghatana (PNS), to offer the electorate a viable alternative for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)election in 2012.

President of Sajag Nagrik Manch (SNM), Vivek Velankar, told reporters on Monday the federation of civic organisations was launched on the back of the unprecedented anti-corruption movements by Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev.

The formation of PNS is inspired by Hazare. "The social awareness created due to the agitation by Anna and Baba should not be frittered away," he said.

Trupti Desai of Bhumata Brigade, Pritesh Laad of Bharat Swabhiman Trust, Vinod Bodhankar of Jal Biradari and Girish Deshpande of the Professionals Party of India addressed the press conference to declare the formation of the alliance.

Nagri Hakka Samiti, Sarvatmaka Parivar, Vanjari Yuvak Sanghatana, Tatvaseva Pratishthan, Maharashtra Military Foundation, Manavi Yuva Vikas Sanghatana, Jansamanya Manch and Abhinav Yuva Manch have also joined the federation.

Velankar said voting percentage in a city like Pune is very low and citizens complain there are no good candidates to vote for.

Anna-inspired NGOs enter political ring Hence, PNS has come forward to provide an alternative with capable educated candidates with clean character for the PMC election in February 2012. Civic activists Budhajirao Mulik, Maruti Bhapkar, Manav Kambale, RV Krishnan and Arun Bhatia would guide the federation.

Stating that Hazare has been informed about the formation of the front, Velankar said PNS would request him to campaign during the PMC election. However, so far he has not promised anything.

Velankar said citizens would have the right to recall elected PNS candidates, and to facilitate this candidates' written resignations would be secured in advance. If elected PNS corporators would hold 'Area Sabhas' every two months to solicit the opinion of citizens in their respective wards, in order to take decisions about development.

A youth wing of the federation would also be launched for registration of young voters. Political activists may be given candidature by the PNS if they do away with their political affiliations and accept the policy of the PNS. Funds for contesting elections would be collected from the public in a transparent manner and audited reports of the funds utilisation would be submitted to the people, Velankar added.

The federation would have collective leadership. All participating organisations would send one representative to the working committee, which would lead the federation.