New political forum floated for ''poll and politics''

Jaipur, Jul 13 (UNI) With an aim to replace the present ''corrupt, inefficient and anti people'' political structure, various people's movements and organisations today floated People's Political Forum for direct intervention in ''poll and politics''.

Led by dignitaries such as Justice Rajendra Sachar, Kuldip Nayyar, Swami Agnivesh and Magsaysay awardees -- Sandip Pandey and Aruna Roy, the decision to evolve an alternative purist and value-based political system was taken at a two-day conference here. Over 250 people affiliated with around 90 social groups or organisations from 15 states, participated in the two-day meet, which also evolved a modus operandi and a draft Manifesto for finalisation through national consensus after a series of deliberations, Mr Kuldip Nayyar told reporters.

Social activist and columnist Yogendra Yadav said besides continuing its role in spearheading people's movement on burning national issues, the forum would also intervene in poll process and active politics by identifying and supporting candidates from new alternative political groups or parties to replace present political parties, including the Congress, BJP, Left parties, Samajwadi Party and BSP.

The forum would identify and actively support candidates from the affiliated political parties, outfits and even deserving independents from outside but it would neither support and any of the above established parties nor would have any pre or post poll alliance with them, the dignitaries said.

As many as 13 social and political groups as well as outfits had already expressed their willingness for affiliation, they said.

The forum would identify and support candidates in Assembly Elections due to be held later this year in Rajasthan and some other states and in the Lok Sabha elections in 2009.

Meanwhile, the forum would also build a national movement in protest against creation of Special Economic Zones(SEZs) and the Indo-US nuclear deal which ''put in peril the sovereignty of the nation,'' they said.

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