Muncipal Elections – Citizens for Good Governance
Back in May, when the state assembly took place, there was a party, called Lok Paritran, which promised change, actually pretty much promised to turn India upside down. They aimed for power at Delhi. A flawed strategy, in a democracy, change is always bottom up, and not top down. This party took the top down approach, and they vanished.
Right now, in Chennai, the local municipal elections are being held. An ideal platform for anyone who wishes to usher in change, I was hoping Lok Paritran would contest the elections, and prove they are serious about change. Sadly, they don’t seem to be round, no mention of them. Are they contesting? Does anyone have an idea? Local papers didn’t mention them; guess the Rang De Basanti romantic euphoria ran out of steam.
Vincent D Souza, a local journo, writes in his blog mentions a local initiative by a retired bureaucrat, who is trying to get local leaders to contest the elections.
On a wet Monday this week, curiosity drove me to a meeting that had been called by a body which calls itself ‘Citizens’ Alliance for Good Governance’. This seems to be an umbrella of bodies made up of retired government officials, social activists, consumer activists and the like.
In the chair was a former bureaucrat, A. K. Venkatasubramanian, who has devoted the past years of his retired life to public causes and one of them is to get people to get involved in the grassroot political process.
To encourage community leaders, to get people to cast votes in an election and drive people in community action.
This initiative is beginning at the right end, at the bottom. I hope this endure succeeds, and ushers in change. First let’s bring in change in Chennai, our neighborhood, before dreaming of changing India.
And the party had split right?
BTW you are talking like CNN-IBN Sagarika. Where did Rang De Basanti come into the picture? :) :) Its after all a movie.
I was hoping Lok Paritran would contest the elections, and prove they are serious about change. Sadly, they don’t seem to be round, no mention of them. Are they contesting? Does anyone have an idea?
May be you should check their site…
http://www.lokparitran.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=72&Itemid=1
I don’t think LP ever said that they would change Indian upside down. Their goals were simple and practical, free stationery for school children (from corporation schools?)who top their class (or something like that), health and related matters, etc.
I agree. Change does not come from the top but from the bottom. Local elections are strategic for change. However once the ward councilors are elected what accountability do they have to the people who elected them?
Please visit http://www.votemumbai.org to see an emerging model to bring area sabhas into the wards. Each area sabha will elect a person from their voting booth area to sit on the ward councilors committee. Wards are to large to manage and an area sabha built around the voting booth area is more ideal.
Perhaps we can start our own votechennai here and take implement accountability for effective change.
T. Paul
the guy on taylors road is up as a contest…dimond something..dunno whats his plan though…