Delhi Polls: Little-known political outfits come up with clear manifesto and action plan

NEW DELHI: Buried in the din of Kiran vs Kejriwal fight are some messages on going green, economic equality, eradication of unemployment, food and health security and a plateful of food. Little-known political outfits, often termed ‘vote kataaus’ (spoilers) by mainstream parties, are contesting Delhi elections with a clear manifesto and action plan.

They have often had their deposits forfeited in successive Delhi elections but this has never dampened their spirits. “Atal Bihari Vajpayee had his deposit forfeited. Even Mayawati and Kanshiram have faced that,” says Satish Mukhiya, election in-charge of Naya Daur Party, which has fielded eight candidates. It is the party’s third election and it is determined to expand its base beyond Delhi to Bihar.

The party, which has a stethoscope as its election symbol, is going by the slogan “swasthya, shiksha aur suraksha” (health, education and security).

The smaller parties refuse to buy the argument made by bigger parties that their candidates divide votes and benefit one. “We are smaller parties with bigger aims,” says Dr R Sugathan of Peoples Green Party, a party registered in 2012 and fielding a single candidate -- in Burari. The party talks about conservation of non-renewable resources and going green.

Other parties with interesting sounding names in the fray include Gareeb Aadmi Party, Deshbhakt Nirman Party, Kalyankari Jantantrik Party, Shreshthatam Rashtra Party, National Apni Party and Saathi Aur Aapka Faisla Party.

Even as Kejriwal’s AAP is trying to end BJP and Congress monopoly on Delhi’s political stage, Gareeb Aadmi Party or GAP is claiming it represents the real common man. Promising food security, GAP has a plate full of food as its election symbol.

This is a group of political activists which split up from Kejriwal’s India Against Corruption movement after being denied tickets by AAP. They fought as independents.