An Appeal by the National Alliance of People's Movements

The premature dissolution of the Lok Sabha and imposition of general elections on the people of India has once again exposed the serious limitation of the established political parties. While the unimaginable lust for power has resulted in shameful ideology, ill-based alliances and unstable political process, these parties have obviously shown callous disregard for the serious issues relating to the life, rights and resources of the people of the nation. The current political "mainstream" system does not seem to offer any seriouspossibilities of a true, people-based polity and sustainable development. Though there is a frightening scarcity of candidates and parties who can really safeguard the people's interests, this is also a fresh opportunity for the people to elect a new and better set of representatives for the highest political body.

The NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF PEOPLE'S MOVEMENTS and like minded forces appeal to the people and people's organisations all over the country to effectively and meaningfully intervene in this electoral politics without compromising the primacy of non-electoral politics and people based movements. We call upon the people and people's organisations

• To pressurize the political parties in your area, state or all over country not to give candidature to persons suspected as criminal elements or charge sheeted in corruption cases.
• Not to support the communal and casteist forces, candidates and parties in the election and defeat these forces.
• To oppose those parties and candidates who justify and support the "new economic policy" of globalisation and liberalisation.
• If a people's organisation/movement chooses to contest the election with the basic issues of the struggle as a goal, we appeal all to support and help such candidates.
• To pressurize all the established political parties to put up 33% of their candidates from among women.
• To compel the candidates from recognised political parties to declare their property, assets and income, their sources publicly.
• To form Watch Committees at the booth level to prevent malpractices in the voting process and to ensure free and fair elections.
• To organise a mass programme - Lok Manch - in your village/city or area in order to bring together all candidates in the constituency on a common platform and question them to declare their position on the basic pressing national and local issues. In order to facilitate such a programme, we will soon send you a statement on the national issues to which you can add local ones and propagate the same among masses as also use it as a basis for LOK MANCH. If you let us know your views and plans, we will coordinate the effort and disseminate information to other organisations, press and to the voters at large.

WHATEVER MAY BE THE OUTCOME OF THESE ELECTIONS, THE LIFE AND NATURE OF THE GOVERNMENT, FOR A JUST, EGALITARIAN AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND TRULY DEMOCRATIC POLITY MASS STRUGGLE IN EVERY VILLAGE, LOCALITY AGAINST OPPRESSION, INJUSTICE AND DESTRUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE INEVITABLE.

THE IMPENDING ELECTIONS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AN EFFECTIVE NON-PARTY POLITICAL INTERVENTION TO FURTHER OUR STRUGGLE, BY RAISING PEOPLE'S ISSUES AND EXERCISING VOTING RIGHT WITH DISCRETION AND CONSCIENCE. WE APPEAL YOU TO JOIN THE "PEOPLE'S ELECTION CAMPAIGN OF NAPM".

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