Professionals vie for political change

A group of five-ten like-minded professionals, who got together first in September 2007 to form a political party, Professionals Party of India (PPI), now boasts of being a party registered under the Election Commission with a strength of over 1,000 active and 10,000 registered members.

Set up with the objective of improving the quality of life of every Indian, the party originated in Pune. It initially started with a handful of professionals who were sensitive about the welfare of the country and decided that the only way change can be brought about is to wholly immerse into the governance instead of playing the blame game.

The educated middle class professionals in India have been on the fringe of the political system - faceless, powerless and vastly outnumbered. To become a part of the political process that will give them an opportunity to govern, they must set out an agenda of what they need to accomplish, should they get elected.

The PPI is ready to provide that platform wherein professionals can come together and take leadership positions in the governance of their own country. “A democratic paradigm shift, driven by ‘professional Indians’ is urgent.  I think it’s for the over 200 million professional Indians to roll up their sleeves and dirty their hands. I think the time has come for them to set up a political party in spite of the fact that they have no political background. I believe it is, perhaps, the only way the morass of ineptitude, incompetence and corruption in our country can be checked. There is a need to add professional competence in the parliament,” said Krishnakumar Iyer, spokesperson, PPI.

Bijal Baxi, Ahmedabad chapter head, said that despite 60 years of self governance, the country still faces challenges like growing population; 40% illiteracy, 55% unemployment and uplifting the 30% of the population living below the poverty line. Power cuts are widespread. Lawlessness and corruption are rampant. Death due to hunger and starvation is common, making the Indian passport a liability. The Indian youth have been pushed to flee the country.

The party has vigorously pursued its campaigning around the ‘Need to Change’ the governance of India and is in the process of establishing local chapters throughout the country, with branches already open in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai and Kolkata. On August 29, the party will invite all the independent election candidates in Mumbai to come under one roof to discuss their move in elections, a first of its kind initiative in India. “Politics is not dirty, it has become dirty because of the dirty politicians manipulating it,” said DVR Rao, general secretary, PPI.