MUMBAI, January 1: Alliance of convenience seems to be the theme of the 1998 Lok Sabha elections.While political parties themselves seem to be lacking the ideal candidate in more than one constituency, now there are more hopefuls: some having the courage to go on their own as `independents', others wishing to contest with the support of various political parties.The first off the mark is senior journalist Abhay Mokashi, who has already announced his candidature from Mumbai North West. Priya Tendulkar stands almost persuaded to pit her moral outrage against the Bharatiya Janata Party's Ram Naik in Mumbai North.Former editor Madhav Gadkari is said to be seeking the Shiv Sena's support to try his luck in Mumbai North Central. If he does, he might have a formidable rival to beat: Professor Pushpa Bhave, Sena supremo Bal Thackeray's bete noire-in-chief. But Ms Bhave argues: ``Where is the money to fight an election? People want me to stand but my mind is almost made up that it won't be possible,'' Bhave said.However, apart from such sharply politically-oriented candidatures there are also likely to be a large number of professionals in the fray seeking to safeguard their own interests by making a maiden foray into parliamentary territory.Among these is the Indian Medical Association which passed a resolution at its national meeting in Daman last week to put up several candidates across the country.The city branch of the IMA is now in the process of screening candidates and possible constituencies.According to IMA president Dr Hozie Kapadia they have thrown open their doors for interested doctors and will have a complete list of names and constituencies ready by mid-January.If the next parliament does not have some medicos to block bills, Dr Kapadia fears medicines will begin to be priced at ten times the current costs and many doctors could thus be driven out of practice in a poor country like India. But lest this be seen as rather self-centred, some concern for public health has also been thrown in.Asked how these professionals hoped to bridge the ideological divide between various political parties considering the sharp differences between the BJP-led parties and others, Dr Kapadia was frank with his concerns: ``Well, we are only trying to protect our professional interests. The political party does not matter. The individuals are free to select the party of their choice.''
