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No need to form new party, declares Anna Hazare
In a statement that took his former teammates by surprise, Anna Hazare on Thursday said there was no need to form a party or contest elections but instead work for an "alternative"
"Volunteers of character from Maharashtra should come forward. There is no need to form a party, no need to contest elections but try and give an alternative to the people because the power to bringing change lies in the hands of people. We have to undertake the work of awakening them," he said in a statement.
Sources in Arvind Kejriwal-led India Against Corruption (IAC) said there was nothing new in his statement as he has been maintaining that he will not join any party or contest elections.
Last month, Hazare disbanded his team after calling off a fast in Delhi during which his team decided to take the political plunge.
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'If I am defeated, it will not be my defeat, but of the people'
Announcing his action plan in fighting corruption, he appealed to the youth to ensure a 90-plus per cent voting in the elections.
In the appeal, aimed mainly at anti-corruption activists in Maharashtra, he said, "to change the state and the country and get a corruption-free India, we have to send men of character to Assembly and Lok Sabha and not look at the party."
After next two months, he said, he would be in a country-wide tour visiting every state in the next one and half years to educate and create awareness among people.
He said, "I don't know how much I would succeed. If I am defeated, it will not be my defeat, but of the people because Anna Hazare is fighting for the cause of the people."
Hazare said voters should elect right candidates in Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
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Hazare's six-point agenda
Around 4,000 activists from all over the country have come forward for this task, and from Maharashtra, activists with "national and social perspective" are needed, he said.
"One thing that is being felt strongly is if the anti-corruption agitation continues in a limited manner of perusal of complaints and a few people getting justice, then there will be no difference between this movement and a complaint redressal centre," he said.
Hazare proposed action on six points: voting for "clean" candidates, to press for right to reject, seek more powers for gram sabha, citizens charter, removing delays in official work and bringing police under "the control" of Lokpal and Lokayukta.