Govindacharya floats new platform ahead of Lok Sabha polls

Leaders and activists came together with RSS ideologue KN Govindacharya to offer what they claimed was an "alternative" to present "pro-West, pro-rich and corrupt" policies of major political parties.

New Delhi: Leaders and activists on Saturday came together under the leadership of former RSS ideologue KN Govindacharya to offer what they claimed was an "alternative" to present "pro-West, pro-rich and corrupt" policies of major political parties. Former cabinet minister Arif Mohammad Khan, former Supreme Court judge Justice Santosh Hegde, who was also Karnataka Lokayukta and an aide of Anna Hazare, N Jayaprakash Narayan of Lok Satta Party and PV Rajagopal of Ekta Parishad were among those who joined hands at an event under the aegis of Govindacharya-led Save Democracy Front.

"All of them can be galvanised in a loose federation.... Some of the constituents would like to fight elections but our main emphasis and thrust would be on political and electoral reforms," Govindacharya said. Once a powerful BJP general secretary and RSS pracharak, Govindacharya has charted an independent course for over a decade. Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal sent his wishes to the new outfit, he said. Hegde said he would not support any political party but "good candidates" put up by them. Rajagopal, who led a massive march of farmers and villagers last year from Gwalior to Mathura, said well-meaning people across the country were yearning for an alternative. "Out agitation would be to fulfill people`s need and no one`s greed," he said. Hegde said the present democracy had become "of the elected, for the elected and by the elected" and had he not "suffered" from the nexus of the executive and legislature from close quarters as lokyukta, he would have not come to streets for people. Jayaprakash Narayan, an MLA in Andhra Pradesh Assembly, said despite adequate resources and skills on hand, India was not doing well due to lack of political will and organisaitonal capability. "They (main parties) have taken a vow to do whatever it takes to come to power and stay in power," he said. Former Gujarat home minister and Gujarat Parivartan Party leader Gordhan Zadaphia also attended the meet. PTI