Nearly 600 supporters, from within the city and beyond, and from all walks of life, have thrown their weight behind a candidate who they say is standing for people-centric rather than party-centric politics.

Students, housewives, corporate professionals and celebrities are pooling in time, money and hard work for Hansel D’Souza, the ‘people’s candidate’ from Andheri (West).The Jagrut Nagrik Manch, backing D’Souza, says its agenda is to promote clean politics without the usual agenda of corruption, crime and divisive issues. It backed Adolf D’Souza for the civic polls and he is now a corporator. “We hope to replicate our success at state level with Hansel,” said Mayank Gandhi, founder of the Manch.

Not everyone campaigning for D’Souza is a member of JNM or even lives in his constituency. Gandhi is a resident of Vile Parle; Chirag Purecha, 32, CEO of a software company, is from Borivli.

“The middle class is often criticised as apathetic towards elections. The real reason is that we have lost faith in candidates fielded by major parties and the distaste has intensified after 26/11. I hope more such people’s candidates who are closer to the grassroots come up by the next election, in my constituency too. What is the use of voting for candidates who are either illiterate or moderately literate? Isn’t legislation about writing laws?” asked Purecha who campaigns at least an hour everyday.

D’Souza’s candidature is being viewed among Andheri’s residents as the revival of Gandhian tenets in politics. Campaigners include Smita Shah, part of Gandhian organisation Sadbhavana Sangh, and her colleagues.

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