Encourage
We tell the stories of self-made leaders — so the next aspirant believes it's possible.
Our programme Rajpath Podcast
India's Only Political Incubator
Democratising
Democratising
political entry.
Opening Indian politics to capable, honest leaders — whatever their background.
₹0
cost to the aspirants we back — we're a non-profit
100%
non-partisan — our only agenda is a stronger democracy
4
leaders backed so far — 1 MP & 3 MLA candidates
The need
Politics is gated by money, dynasty & muscle.
For honest, first-generation aspirants the barriers compound — until most give up before they begin. We measured how steep they really are.
17th → 18th Lok Sabha
The gates are narrowing, not opening.
18th Lok Sabha (2024)
2019 level
Share of winning Lok Sabha MPs, 17th vs 18th Lok Sabha. Source: Prajatantra · ADR · Indian Express · The Wire
| Trait | 17th Lok Sabha (2019) | 18th Lok Sabha (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Crorepatis | 88% | 93% |
| Super crorepatis (HNIs) | 49% | 60% |
| Criminal background | 40% | 46% |
| Serious criminal background | 29% | 36% |
| Dynasts | 30% | 32% |
Only 8.1% of sitting MPs cleared every gate at once — no inherited seat, no crore, no criminal case. That's the narrow door we're widening.
Our approach
How we open the gate
Three moves — Encourage, Educate, Empower — each powering a real programme.
Educate
We research how entry really works — and turn it into plain, practical playbooks.
Our programme Reports & PlaybooksEmpower
We back aspirants with strategy, mentorship and frugal-campaign muscle.
Our programme The Sangharsh incubator
Our impact
Turning the framework into change
Three programmes — one for each E — already in motion across India.
Encourage · Rajpath
The Rajpath Podcast
Unfiltered journeys of ministers, MLAs and aspirants who entered public life without money, muscle or a famous surname.
125K+
impressions
15K+
views
700+
hours watched
Educate · Research
India's first study of how people enter politics
We map who reaches power, and how — turning hard data into the case for reform. Our work is cited by national media.
Empower · The Sangharsh incubator
From a clinic to Parliament.
Sangharsh is our open-application incubator — first-generation aspirants backed on merit, not money. We've run it across two states, drawing 85+ serious aspirants onto the ballot. One alumnus now sits in Parliament.
Maha SangharshMaharashtra · 2024
30+ aspirants
2 tickets
1 elected — MP, Latur
Sangharsh DelhiDelhi · 2025
56 aspirants
1 ticket
0 elected — yet
In the news
Voices
The leaders we've helped contest
“For thirty years I treated patients in Latur, never imagining politics was for me. Prajatantra sat with me before the ticket, built a campaign we could actually afford, and convinced me that a doctor's honesty could win. Today I serve those same families from Parliament.”“तीस साल मैंने लातूर में मरीज़ों का इलाज किया, कभी नहीं सोचा कि राजनीति मेरे लिए है। प्रजातंत्र ने टिकट से पहले मेरे साथ बैठकर एक ऐसा अभियान बनाया जो हमारे बजट में था, और मुझे यक़ीन दिलाया कि एक डॉक्टर की ईमानदारी भी जीत सकती है। आज मैं उन्हीं परिवारों की सेवा संसद से करता हूँ।”
— Dr. Shivaji Kalge
Member of Parliament, Latur · Congress
“I was a lawyer — I knew the courtroom, not the polling booth. Their team walked every village with me, one circle at a time, until I topped the alliance's own survey. We lost by just 841 votes, but for the first time a woman like me was taken seriously.”“मैं एक वकील थी — अदालत जानती थी, बूथ नहीं। उनकी टीम हर गाँव मेरे साथ चली, एक-एक सर्कल, जब तक मैं गठबंधन के अपने सर्वे में पहले नंबर पर नहीं आ गई। हम सिर्फ़ 841 वोट से हारे, पर पहली बार मुझ जैसी महिला को गंभीरता से लिया गया।”
— Jaishree Shelke
Assembly candidate · Shiv Sena (UBT)
“I'm a councillor from a small community, and people said a man like me would never get a ticket. Prajatantra never promised money — they helped me prove my work, ward by ward, until the party couldn't look away. Earning that nomination on a clean record meant everything.”“मैं एक छोटे समुदाय का पार्षद हूँ, और लोग कहते थे कि मुझ जैसे आदमी को कभी टिकट नहीं मिलेगा। प्रजातंत्र ने पैसे का वादा नहीं किया — उन्होंने वार्ड-दर-वार्ड मेरा काम साबित करने में मदद की, जब तक पार्टी नज़र नहीं फेर सकी। साफ़ छवि पर वह नामांकन पाना मेरे लिए सब कुछ था।”
— Raju Latkar
Councillor & Assembly candidate · Independent
“I was already an MLA, but the Lok Sabha is a different mountain to climb. Their surveys put my name first across every party — built on real feedback from the ground, not money. We ran it lean, and showed that a wrestler from the akhada can stand tall in national politics.”“मैं पहले से विधायक था, पर लोकसभा चढ़ने के लिए एक अलग ही पहाड़ है। उनके सर्वे में हर पार्टी में मेरा नाम सबसे ऊपर आया — ज़मीन की असली राय पर, पैसे पर नहीं। हमने कम ख़र्च में अभियान चलाया और दिखाया कि अखाड़े का एक पहलवान राष्ट्रीय राजनीति में भी डटकर खड़ा हो सकता है।”
— Sahi Ram Pehalwan
MLA & Lok Sabha candidate · AAP
Team
Who we are
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Aspiring leader, mentor, researcher or supporter — there's a place for you. Tell us how you'd like to help.
- Aspiring leaders — research, mentorship & campaign support
- Mentors & experts — guide the next generation
- Supporters — fund a more open democracy
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