Citizens’ group invites applications for candidature

Pune Nagrik Sanghatna (PNS), an umbrella group of civic organisations in the city formed to contest the February 2012 Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections, has invited applications from aspiring candidates.

The prerequisite put by the coalition is that the hopefuls should be of impeccable character and with a penchant for civic work. Sajag Nagrik Manch (SNM) president, Vivek Velankar, speaking on behalf of PNS, told reporters on Tuesday that interested candidates should call 9823117434 or email punens@gmail.com within eight days.

He said the conditions for application to PNS for candidature are experience of public work, no record of criminal activity, declaring assets and submitting a resignation letter from the post of corporator.

Velankar said there has been scepticism among citizens that their chosen PNS candidate may fail in fulfilling his/her responsibility after getting elected. A resignation letter would be secured from him/her in advance as a deterrent. He said a committee of experts would interview the candidates. The panel would be independent and will not have any PNS member.

The social activist said that the PNS plans to complete the process of selection of candidates by November-end. The move will help take a lead in the process over other political parties, as it does not want any candidate that are ‘rejected’ by mainstream political parties.

He said the PNS plans to invite Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev, Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi for campaigning, but the group is awaiting their confirmation. PNS was formed about two months ago to make its foray into the political process and improve the system.