Mallika shocked at PM calling independents ’spoilers’

Independent candidate and noted classical dancer Mallika Sarabhai, who is pitted against BJP senior leader L K Advani in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, on Tuesday said she was shocked at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh dubbing independent candidates as “spoilers”.

Independent candidate and noted classical dancer Mallika Sarabhai, who is pitted against BJP senior leader L K Advani in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, on Tuesday said she was shocked at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh dubbing independent candidates as “spoilers”.

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Singh during his visit to Mumbai on Monday said that independent candidates are “spoilers who are in the fray only to dent votes that would be received by Congress party”.

“The comment by PM comes as a shock to me. I never thought Manmohan Singh would make a comment like this,” Sarabhai told PTI.

“In our constitution there is no mention of political parties contesting the elections, it mentions only individuals contesting elections and representing people of the country,” she said.

“This is a democracy, for the people, by the people and of the people. This is not only for political parties,” Sarabhai added.

She said that on the contrary “a well educated Prime Minister like Dr Singh should be encouraging more independent candidates to participate in elections.”