Professionals Party of India will focus on the section of society

Dinesh Thite 

President of the Professionals Party of India (PPI) RV Krishnan on Wednesday said the country is experiencing a governance disaster, and it is high time that middle class is encouraged to get involved in the political process. “We have the numbers to bring about the change”, Krishnan said.

Krishnan was speaking to newspersons about the party, which was formally registered as a political party with the Election Commission of India in August this year, under the Representation of People Act. The party has its head office in Pune and chapters in Navi Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. Similar chapters are being started in Balsad, Faridabad and Aurangabad.

“In India, we have enough professional capability to be well governed. Hence, an attempt is being made to make PPI a vehicle by which professionals find a method of getting involved in the affairs of the nation,” he said.

“The PPI’s aim is to encourage middle class and professionals to participate in the political process”, he reiterated, adding that although the faith of the middle class in the system has shaken, the numbers are in its favour. “Even if half of India’s middle class becomes a cohesive group, bringing about a change in the system is possible.”

The party has targeted urban middle class which has a population of about 25 to 30 crore. There are 140 Lok Sabha constituencies in 90 cities in the country. General Secretary of the party DVR Rao said that PPI is a young political party and a different one. “We won’t buy votes. We won’t mae promises which we can’t keep”, he said.

The party has now focused on a three-pronged strategy  of propagation, raising funds and identifying candidates for the elections. The party is trying to provide an option to the traditional political process.

Media Coordinator of the party Girish Deshpande said the party has a website www.ppi.net.in where people can register. So far, more than 10,000 people have registered on the website.

How middle class can influence elections?

-          The PPI has made an elaborate study of the electoral process in the country and has come to a conclusion that the middle class has numbers to bring about a change.

-          It appeals to middle class to consider the facts that India has an electorate of 671 million and a little over half of them voted in the last general elections.

-          India is believed to have a ‘middle class’ of about 250 million. But he percentage of those who actually vote or are able to vote is abysmal. Even if a section of the middle class votes, PPI can win elctions.