http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/the-young-and-the-educated-throw-poll-challenge-at-political-giants/375963/
The young and the educated throw poll challenge at political giants NitinPatil Posted: Oct 21, 2008 at 0344 hrs IST Sporting a blue Gandhi cap and a jacket of the same colour, Sangharsh Apte is a picture of confidence as he prepares to contest the Lok Sabha election. The slightly built, 27-year-old research assistant with a media firm in Pune, armed with a Masters degree in social work (MSW), has chosen to contest from the stronghold of a political heavyweight —Baramati, a seat held by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar for 20 years. Apte is one among the members of the Prabuddha Republican Party (PRP), which will field candidates against big names in all the Assembly and Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. His wife is also getting ready for the polls, as an Assembly seat contestant. The candidates have already started campaigning door to door and raising funds from people to cover election costs. The PRP believes only the youth can bring a positive change in the political system in the country. The party has vowed to follow the ideals of Gautama Buddha, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, and aims at fighting for freedom, equality and fraternity and rooting out corruption. On the name sounding similar to that of another party, PRP office-bearer Mahendra Nikalje said: "Our party has nothing to do with the Republican Party of India (RPI) or its factions, as all these, or any political party for that matter, are trapped in communal politics and are far away from the true philosophy of a republic. The PRP has taken a vow to turn the principles of 'freedom, equality and fraternity' into reality." The PRP, established in 2002, contested Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in 2004. It did not win any seat. The party head office is at Ambajogai in Beed district and has about 500 members. "We have finalised the candidates from Pune district for both the polls. Party offices in other districts are doing the same. As for me, I will contest from Baramati. The USP of our party is that we are all young and educated," Sangharsh said. "Each candidate will raise at least Rs 25,000 through donations from people for the deposit amount and other resources. We will depend only on interaction with people and refrain from any poster-campaign." His wife, Pallavi Harshe, who is also an MSW, said, "I will be the candidate from Kothrud for the Assembly polls and have started my groundwork. I have visited about 50 households, explaining our party's stand, asking people to vote for us and donate some money." Even the women members wear the blue Gandhi cap and the jacket, the party trademark. Harshe, who is a call centre employee, said, "This attire establishes our identity and we believe it brings positive thoughts and social awareness." ------------------------------------ ---- INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED], OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ PARTICIPATE:- On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to [email protected] TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:- If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/ Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
