If elected to the Lok Sabha in the coming elections, Aam Admi Party’s possible candidate from Kanyakumari constituency, S P Udayakumar, would attend the House proceedings regularly and inform voters of his leave of absence, if any. Besides, he is open to the idea of ‘recall’ if voters disapproved of his functioning or felt that he had breached the ‘contract’ that he would sign with them.
Unveiling a copy of the business-like contract that he and his comrade in the anti-Koodankulam agitation, M P Jesuraj, would sign if the AAP, which he has rechristened as Eliya Makkal Katchi in Tamil, gave them tickets, Udayakumar said the contract would be binding on them.
With a score of clauses, the contract would give assurance to the voters on what Udayakumar would do, not do and stand for as an MP. One of the clauses said: “I will only do the basic necessary expenses to get elected and will not treat the election as a business venture in which one would invest large amounts of money in order to reap high dividends later.”
Assuring the voters that he would turn to them for opinion and suggestions when the House or the country faced a “crucial decision-making situation”, Udayakumar said: “I will not take any bribe from anybody in any form for any reason, and certainly not for asking questions in the House, or to cast my vote in favour of somebody or something, or to be a silent spectator in the House.”
He also said: “I will utilize all my powers and potentials only for the “ordinary people” of India and I will not work either directly or indirectly for any Indian or foreign corporations or business houses and other interest groups in any manner.”
As per the contract, he would not accept “garlands, flower crowns, shawls, silver masts” and “not put up cut-outs, large flex-banners or cause noise pollution in residential areas and hurt the interests of the public”.
It also gives details on how he intended to spend the MP Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds and the “Constituency Coordination Committee” that he would set up.
He would also hold periodic neighbourhood meetings all over the constituency and “meet the press at least once a month and answer their questions openly and honestly”.