NEW DELHI: One of India's most prominent anti-corruption campaigners launched a new political party on Tuesday, aiming to tap into a rich seam of public anger against the graft-tainted government.
Arvind Kejriwal said the formation of his party would mark a new chapter in the struggle against a "bribe-taking culture" and pledged to field candidates at a general election due in 2014.
"Our political party is first step in the right direction, the common man will soon become the law maker," Kejriwal told AFP, after the launch in New Delhi.
The launch of the yet-unnamed party was announced on the anniversary of the birth of the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi.
"We derive lessons from Mahatma Gandhi's teachings. We are determined to clean up the entire political spectrum. Our candidates will be committed to honesty and transparency and they will fight elections," Kejriwal added.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government has been rocked by a string of graft accusations, including revelations that officials pocketed millions of dollars when awarding tenders for telecoms and coal-mining ventures.
Kejriwal, a former civil servant, co-founded a group called India Against Corruption which caused huge embarrassment for the Congress-led coalition government when another leader Anna Hazare went on hunger strike.
Hundreds of thousands of people took part in protests organised by India Against Corruption although the movement has since largely fizzled out.
Hazare has since parted ways with Kejriwal over his plans to enter politics, which he has described as "full of dirt".
Kejriwal told AFP that his group would continue to "seek Hazare's blessings" despite the rift.
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Maximum political party of INDIA have created communal disharmony between various castes,religions e.t.c to get a heavy vote bank and enlarge their property. PLEASE............. ARABIND clean it permanently........
What so ever be out come of elections, there is wave of awareness sweeping in India. Lets give it strength if we want future of children to be better and our old age well secured in India. Corruption has served few but harmed most of us at one or other stage of life. Its not Kejriwal or Anna its wave of India awaking in awareness now and dishonests must count their days. Jai Hind
ashwani_joshi@hotmail.com NAWANSHAHR - PUNJAB
@Rameez: "imran khan of India"
Comparison is valid so far as the platform of corruption is concerned. Otherwise Imran was a national hero due to his cricket before he discussed the issue of corruption (through the earlier avatar of implementing the RTI act (Right to Information Act). Kejriwal was unknown until he picked up the issue of corruption. On the other side, Kejrial was an IAS officer and has extensive administrative experience - in particular understands all the issues that need to be tackled to implement any large change - based on his leadership in the RTI act issue.
Imran due to his personal popularity and name recognition has much greater chance of getting elected. I personally think that the best Kejriwal can hope for is to win his own ticket. The chances that other people would win tickets using his party symbol seems really low. I agree with Sid, they are more than likely to lose their deposits. So while Kejriwal maybe more capabale than Imran , he is owhere near as electable.
imran khan of India
@sid not today's youth, they have grown out of it.
We are waiting Arvind....we the youth are there to support you...YES WE CAN
Indians vote on the basis of caste,religion,states etc........this party will loose deposits...........