Political outfit not in a hurry: Anna

The first public action of Anna Hazare and his team after turning political would be a nationwide yatra. The political activists have ruled out the possibility of putting up candidates in any state assembly elections in the near future though.

The first public action of Anna Hazare and his team after turning political would be a nationwide yatra. The political activists have ruled out the possibility of putting up candidates in any state assembly elections in the near future though.

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In a clear indication that the political outfit backed by him would not be launched in a hurry and would be in place by the time the nation goes to polls in 2014, Hazare on Sunday termed it as a big challenge.

“You need lots of money to fight election these days. Where will the money come from if one wants to provide an alternative by fighting elections?..... Providing an alternative is not an easy job, but it is also not an impossible job,” Hazare wrote on his blog.

He, however, reiterated that he would not contest elections. “I want to emphasis that I will not contest election or form a party. I will tour the country to awaken people and ensure that good people go to Parliament. I think that people will welcome the alternative as they are suffering due to corruption,” Hazare wrote.

Meanwhile, he also held an informal meeting with his close associates — Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Kiran Bedi, Shanti Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan. Team Anna is learnt to have discussed the contours of the yatra. It will be called “Swaraj Yatra.”

Team Anna has ruled out participation in the state assembly elections to be held in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh later this year. The issue of Baba Ramdev's agitation beginning August 9 is understood to have figured in the meeting. It is not clear whether Team Anna would join the yoga guru this time.