Foray into politics not easy at all: Medha Patkar

February 18, 2014 03:44 pm | Updated May 18, 2016 09:07 am IST - Bhopal

MUMBAI:Social activist Medha Patkar along with AAP leaders Mayank Gandhi and Anjali Damania during a press conference in Mumbai on Monday. PTI Photo by Shashank Parade(PTI1_13_2014_000114B)

MUMBAI:Social activist Medha Patkar along with AAP leaders Mayank Gandhi and Anjali Damania during a press conference in Mumbai on Monday. PTI Photo by Shashank Parade(PTI1_13_2014_000114B)

Social activist and Aam Aadmi Party candidate for upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Mumbai north-east seat, Medha Patkar on Tuesday said her decision to enter the electoral fray was very tough.

“My decision and consent to become a candidate for the AAP in the Lok Sabha elections was very tough owing to a number of factors,” the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader said.

Citing reasons for not taking the plunge earlier, Ms Patkar said AAP itself was in initial stage although it had formed a short-lived government in New Delhi and apart from NBA, she is involved in several other agitations.

The NBA activist is also a Ramon Magsaysay Award winner.

The 59-year-old social activist said that people like her were almost forced into political arena due to the present-day leaders, who are “corrupt” and “disconnected from reality” as well as the electorate.

“Many of them after getting elected to Parliament do not even bother to visit the constituencies they represent,” she alleged.

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