| |
|
| |
NEWS &
EVENTS |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
FEATURES |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MADHYA
PRADESH ISAIMAHASANGH BEGINS
PREPARATIONS FOR LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS |
| |
Bhopal, 7 September
2009: Madhya Pradesh Isai Mahasangh,(IMS),
organized one day training for Christian aspirants in
the forthcoming local body elections in November. Over
hundred persons have registered so far with the IMS.
Kurishinkal Josy, State president of IMS, said,” As we
did in the last Assembly and Lokh Sabha elections we are
trying to put up a formidable front to lobby for more
seats.” The presence of three Christian Members of
Legislative Assembly (MLAs), and senior leaders have
infused enthusiasm among the aspirants belonging to IMS.
All the three MLAs belong to the Congress Party.
The Coordinator of IMS Fr. Anand Muttungal told that the
meeting is more than a training programme. “We are
trying to gather the strength of Christian leaders
working in various political parties in different parts
of Madhya Pradesh. We want to strengthen the Christian
leadership in the small towns and cities through uniting
them under a plat form to work for the society and
community. I feel that it is an evangelical mission
among the people who makes policies for the poor and
rich alike. With God’s blessings we will succeed in our
mission.”
The meeting was attended by all the three Christian MLAs,
Mrs. Shoba Thomas Ohja, the President of the Womens’
wing of the Madhya Pradesh Congress Party, National
Executive Member of the JD(U) M.S. Manu(President of the
IMS’ Political wing), State Secretary of the State Women
wing of the Nationalist Congress Party Mrs. Rajni Ravate
(who is also the Women wing General Secretary of the IMS),
State Minority Cell President of the NCP, Mrs. Sunita
Swami(who is also the state women wing vice president of
the IMS) , State Youth Executive Committee member of the
BJP Richard D’Silva (who is also the State General
Secretary of the IMS) and important local leaders IMS
too addressed the gathering.
Senior most Christian MLA, Ratnesh Solomon said, “I came
from the family of strong Christian beliefs. My father
was a pastor and mother, a teacher. There are only seven
Christian families in the constituency. People elected
me four times not as a Christian but as a worker who is
concerned about the problems of people.”
The first time elected Christian MLA Pachilal Meda, a
Catholic Christian, said, “ I began my political life
from panch , then Sarpanch, Janpat President and Jilla
Panchayath member , I was never known as a Christian
leader but a leader of the people. I have even gone to
jail for the people. They feel me a brother, even today
I travel daily ten Kilometres into the inertial villages
of my constituency to find out what I can do for my
people. He asked them to be one among the people.”
Xavier Meda MLA, a first time elect, said, “ My
constituency has a good number of Christians but which
is not enough for me to win, I have built up a secular
image in the constituency, I am president of the city
temple committee for many years, I extend my support to
every one. We have to become a leader for the people.”
All the three MLAs unanimously said that they will be
with the IMS to bargain for more seats for Christian
aspirants. They said that we are Christians at heart and
we will do every thing to get more Christian into
electoral politics.
Mrs. Shoba Thomas Ohja gave some practical tips to
participants. She said, “We live in a pluralistic
country where people are very much religious. Our faith
must not be that weak that it might be considered lost
just by entering a temple, a mosque, a gurudwara, etc.
They are places of worship for millions of people. A
leader cannot avoid all these places.” She was a leader
from her student days. She fought Assembly elections two
times and also for the post of Indore city Mayor. Both
she lost by a thin margin. Indore is one of the most
riot prone cities in Madhya Pradesh. The BJP always used
Rome vs Ram card against her.
IMS General Secretary (Membership), Rihard D’silva
briefed the meeting, “Until IMS came to being, Christian
community had only one candidate who reached the
Assembly; but in the last election, 11 Christian members
from different parties entered in the electoral politics
of which three are elected. For the Lok Sabha, we had
two candidates but only one got ticket who stood third
among the candidates. As per the information we have so
far only two Christian members in the existing
Municipalities in MP. We are planning for at lest ten
members from our community.”
The participants continued on a six hour discussion
without any break. Mrs. Sheela Santiago said, “We have
distributed biodata forms to all the aspirants and we
will also send copies to all the Bishops to nominate
candidates of their choice but who has a mass base. At
times we hear that the candidates we selected were not
devoted Christians. We will first scrutinize the all the
applications received and then collectively bargain
seats from different parties. We are not working for any
single party.”
|
|
|
This page
is updated on Sep 18, 2009 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY
10 YEARS CELEBRATION
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
