Lok Raj Sangathan is supporting people’s candidates in the forthcoming Delhi and Mumbai Municipal elections.

Dear friend,

Lok Raj Sangathan is supporting people’s candidates in the forthcoming Delhi and Mumbai Municipal elections.

There are two contrasting trends in these elections.

One trend, which is becoming stronger with every passing election, is of political parties of the money bags going all out to wrest control of the municipal wards, dividing the local residents and communities in the process, and leaving a trail of violence, corruption and complete marginalization of the people.

The second trend began to take shape in response to this state of affairs. For many years now, Lok Raj Sangathan, as well as several organizations of workers, women and peasants, have been carrying on a public campaign through the villages and towns of India, calling for an end to party rule, to the marginalizing of the people during elections. They have campaigned for deep rooted reforms in the political process, including that no political party should be permitted to field candidates in any of the tiers of governance, whether local bodies, or state assemblies, or the parliament. In particular, they have campaigned for selection of candidates by people of the constituency, rejection of candidates who are put up by the political parties of the establishment, as well as the right to recall unsuitable representatives.

The first results of this work have already come in. In the Delhi and Tamil Nadu assembly elections as well as in the recent local body elections in TN, people have come forward to select candidates from amongst their midst. These include residents of city colonies, plantation workers, textile and garment workers, peasants, marginal farmers, agricultural workers, working women, fisherfolk, construction workers, headload workers and so on. The tremendous response that LRS and its partners received from the people has generated immense enthusiasm and the hope that we can make a positive impact on the present political process and give the big parties of the establishment a big jolt. In the Tamil Nadu local body elections, LRS and more than 60 partner organizations supported several candidates and took the battle to the very doors of these criminal parties. For the forthcoming Delhi and Mumbai municipal elections, LRS has taken the initiative to form a united platform with several organizations interested in working for the renewal of the present political process.

RWAs of middle class colonies, niwasi samitis of slum and resettlement colonies, organisations working for the rights of unorganised workers, for housing rights, women's organisations, etc. are coming together on this platform.

These Candidates need YOUR SUPPORT!

These candidates are:

Chosen by the people and their organizations, not given a ticket by any Party.

Challenging the notion that working people are unfit to govern and can only choose by whom they should be governed.

Challenging the practice of reducing people to vote banks for the parties of the status quo.

Committed to work for the solution of problems through collective action – including actualization of the right to shelter and livelihood, and other local concerns that affects the local population.

Committed to work to empower the local bodies, so that they can and will be able to reflect the wishes and aspirations of the people

Raising awareness of the scope and purpose of local bodies, so that ordinary citizens can give their informed vote.

The LRS local area committees are carrying on a vigorous campaign in support of these candidates. This campaign requires funds to be raised from all those who support the movement for Lok Raj. This is towards the cost of fielding a slate of candidates, distributing pamphlets, organising awareness yatras, conducting local meetings and so on. The local committees will maintain the accounts and have a post election meeting to inform the people in each area on the expenses. And the centralised account will be presented to the All-India Committee of Lok Raj Sangathan.

We request you to come forward and contribute generously. Please remember that every rupee counts. Kindly send your cheques in favour of Lok Raj Sangathan payable at Delhi and mail it to the following address: A-479. Sarita Vihar, New Delhi 110076.

Please confirm your contribution by Email to the following Email address: lokrajsangathan@yahoo.com

If you have any queries do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

Looking forward to your solidarity and positive response,

Yours sincerely,
Prakash Rao
Convenor
Lok Raj Sangathan