Another social activist forms a political party
19 Oct, 2012At the age of 72 when most people would think of retiring, Praful Desai, a social worker turned activist with his NGO Jaagte Raho, has now launched a political party Jaagte Raho Party (JRP) which has been named named after his organization. He has been involved in taking up civic issues, issues related to corruption and RTI for many years.
He has said that the civil society and political parties can complement each other. The political parties can make laws which the civil society cannot while the civil society acts as a watchdog over politicians. His political party has been registered with the Election Commission and may try its luck during the ensuing Gujarat assembly elections.
Desai claims to have been involved extensively in the Jaycees and the Lions' Club and later with the Anna Hazare movement apart from taking up the issue of senior citizens. He had filed a PIL on the issue of the high pendency of appeals in the state information commission due to vacancies of information commissioners.
The mute point is whether formation of such small splinter groups would aid the polity in any significant manner?