Praja, Elections, Politics and Issues!

Prajagale,

Having chosen to earn my livelihood outside India, I have deprived myself to participate in the greatest Indian tradition of voting in the elections since 1997. Even though I am still a proud citizen of India, due to distance and resources, it has become difficult to plan the trip during the elections. Nevertheless I always had my heart tuned to India and its affairs by closely following the every election and its outcome. This year it has been little different and bit more satisfying with participating with Praja to highlight the issues that matters to me, you and others.

Now that elections are over in Karnataka at least, time to reflect upon what did we aspired and what did we achieve? Thanks to Praja and hundreds of its members that put their hearts and minds to highlight the issues that cut across the usual, caste, religion and regional basis. I am talking about Praja's campaign for "I Vote I count". I think this is the first time that majority of voters have highlighted the fact that "Roti" Kapda and Makaan, are the issues that voters were looking for. Voters looked at the delivery vehicles of governance and development that should have delivered the RKM to every citizen of this country. How much each politician has put efforts for that promise is all before the people. I am sure people have taken this into consideration for the Vote in this election. Hopefully on May 16, we will know who would be leading the country for next 5 years.

Coming to Praja as a platform, as a chaupal (in traditional) did a fabulous job of presenting the opportunity to the INTERNET savvy crowd to become the agents for voicing the real issues to the political parties and their candidates. From the data it looks like about 3000 participated in the survey to highlight the top ten issues that they think needs immediate attention from politicians and governments. It's a good sampling number.

What is more interesting is this efforts by Praja community did not go waste. I have been told that, politicians, political parties and the candidates specially in Bangalore have regularly followed the discussions, arguments and counter arguments and tried to shape their campaigns. This is all across the parties and candidates. Not only they followed it, they also made some of the issues into their vision of development for the city and the state. Praja's survey also made it to the election speeches and vision papers. Looking at those developments, one can surely conclude that it is pretty decent success any new platform can have in influencing the elections and the issues.

Congratulations Praja!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well done Prajagale. Your efforts have borne fruits. Let this spark be carried to the next assembly elections with much more in numbers and focused campaigns.