Interview of Suryakant Shinge, People’s candidate from Mumbai South Constituency

Q: Why did you decide to stand for election to parliament?
A: As you know, I am a leader of the Ladaku Garment Mazdoor Union. We are trying to establish a new culture in this Union - we leaders, who are more experienced, try to educate the members about their rights and about how the owners can be fought. We do everything with consultation. All the important decisions - about how to fight, when to compromise and how much - they are all taken after discussion in the General Body of the unit in question. At the same time we educate the members about other issues as well - economic, political and social issues that affect them directly and indirectly. "Leaders should be accountable to the members" is our principle. We have discussed many a time that the question of accountability is very important not only to run a Union, but also to run the country. When the General Elections came up, some of our members felt that this was a good occasion to take this concept to a wide field by putting up a candidate and they urged me to stand.

At the same time, the Lok Raj Sangathan (LRS) to which I belong, decided that wherever possible we would put up candidates selected by committees of the people themselves, and not by the High commands of this or that party, so as to popularize our program. The candidates would be accountable to these committees.In one of the meetings called by LRS, it was decided that we would put up a candidate from Mumbai. My name was proposed, and unanimously accepted. I had no choice really (Laughs).

Q: Which organizations are supporting you?
A: The Lok Raj Sangathan, Ladaku Garment Mazdoor Sangh, Ladaku Mazdoor Union, Kamgar Ekta Chalwal, Purogami Mahila Sangathan, the Hind Naujawan Ekta Sabha, Jan Jagruti Abhiyaan, and the Communist Ghadar Party. The General Bodies of all these organisations have enthusiastically supported me. Other organisations are also coming forward with their support.

Q: Is your campaigning different from the candidates of established parties or those backed with big money?
A: The campaign is still to get off the ground, as there are so many formalities that an independent candidate has to fulfill. However, we have made our plans. We don't have any paid "volunteers". People in the campaign committee are contributing time, energy as well as money. They will have to take leave for a few days and participate in the campaign. We plan to raise money from the electorate itself, and from the various organisations of the people. We will use leaflets, floor meetings, street corner meetings, road shows. Some of our people are attempting to make a small film. Some youth are trying to put up a street play.

Q: What is the thrust of your manifesto?
A: Indian society is divided into two classes. One is the super rich, the ruling class. The other is the class of all the toiling people. One can have a program either to make the India of the ruling class richer, or one can have a program to improve the lives of all the toiling people, the workers, peasants, the women, youth, adivasis, minorities, disadvantaged sections, and so on. i.e. the majority. This India of the majority can benefit only by acting against the drive of the rich to get richer. My program is for the class of toilers. It recognises the need to reorient the economy from safeguarding the super profits of the super rich to benefiting the people at large.

Moreover it clearly recognises the need for a fundamental change in the present political system and process, where the people have no power. We need to sow and nurture the seeds of the Lok Raj of the future. To this end, building committees of people, Lok Raj Samitis, who will hold the representative accountable to them in every way, is an essential first step.

Q: You ha given an affidavit to the electorate of your constituency. Can you tell us about it and why have you done it?
A: Before the elections there is a big hype about "Matadar Raja" (the voter is king). It is made out as though the people decide everything in India. Nothing could be further from the truth. People know that the vote is all they have. After that none of the representatives, by and large, bother abut them or heed them. They are answerable to the High Command of their respective parties, as well as, to the money bags who have funded them. This is utterly wrong. Accountability should be towards the electors. But the present political process serves to keep them totally away from power. How do we change this?

As a step in that direction, the Lok Raj Sangathan has urged the candidates chosen by the people to give them affidavits granting them the right to recall if found unsuitable. I think this is a very good step and needs to be replicated everywhere. ...contd