An online pledge to end graft

Many candidates are trying out innovative ways to make their presence felt. Among them are group of people who are trying to woo voters by signing an anti-corruption pledge form. Astha Saxena reports.

Many candidates are trying out innovative ways to make their presence felt. Among them are group of people who are trying to woo voters by signing an anti-corruption pledge form.

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"The public cannot be fooled. They will choose candidates on the amount of work that has been done. By signing this pledge form, I am assuring the public that I will look after all their issues," said Deepak Gupta, an independent candidate from Preet Vihar.

The initiative was started by a group, which created a pledge forum a month ago. Its website, 'www.mcd2012plegometer', has now started receiving signed pledge forms from candidates of various parties.

10 candidates have submitted the form till now.

"We created a pledge form for all candidates. Many candidates got in touch with us themselves," said Anita Bhargava, one of the creators of the pledge forum 'MCD 2012 Pledgometer'.

Candidates who signed the form gathered at Jantar Mantar on Sunday. Three candidates from Lok Satta Party (LSP), two from Congress, and many independent candidates assembled there to show their pledge forms.

Apart from them, there was a group that walked 5,500 kms across 15 states starting from Kanyakumari to Delhi in the last four months. Marking April 8 as 'Personal Honesty Day towards Zero Corruption', these citizens requested the candidates to work towards the welfare of the country.

"We have requested the candidates as well as residents to take a pledge to take concrete steps to eliminate corruption," said Vikram Badhwar, one of the members.