Beijing votes in grassroots poll

By Louisa Lim BBC, Beijing

Shu Kexin has been pounding the narrow alleyways between the traditional courtyard houses in a central district of Beijing.

Door-to-door canvassing is a normal election ritual in most countries, but not in China.

The system is stacked against independent candidates

And Shu Kexin himself has been breaking the mould. Along with dozens of others, he has put himself forward as an independent candidate in Wednesday's district elections in Beijing, the lowest level of parliamentary representation.

They are the first to have done so for more than 20 years. Campaigning is not permitted - officially he has simply been giving out copies of the election law.

We don't need a big revolution. Because I have assets, I don't want a big revolution Shu Kexin Landlords' committee

Mr Shu is the chairman of a landlords' committee, the embodiment of China's new middle class. His main aim has been to test the limits of the system, rather than to bring about wholesale democratic change.

"Actually if you send power to the normal people directly, it's not good," he said.

"I think China needs to change slowly. We don't need a big revolution. Because I have assets, I don't want a big revolution."

Property

Official figures suggest more than 70% of people in Beijing are now home-owners. It is a fact that is changing the nature of the game when it comes to politics, according to democracy advocate Yang Fengcheng.

"Why are so many people in my housing development so interested in this election?" he said.

"It's because we've got common interests with property owners."

He was speaking at a rowdy meeting in a basement karaoke bar. Many of those attending wanted to stand as independents. Most of them had their bids turned down by their local election commissions, which are controlled by the Communist Party.

They were bitter and angry, criticising the system as unfair and non-transparent.

That is a view that political analyst Li Fan would agree with. He has just returned from an election in Qianjiang in Hubei province, which he said was peppered with irregularities.

He said the local authorities controlled every step of the process, removing students from the voting lists, disqualifying unofficial candidates and warning that voters might be punished, if they voted for independent candidates.

An independent, Yao Lifa, was successfully elected to the Qianjiang's congress in 1998. His re-election bid this year failed. Li Fan said one reason is because independent candidates threatened entrenched local interests.

That was the very reason Zhang Xingshui, a lawyer, wanted to have a voice.

He said: "You cannot neglect the rights of the district congress to monitor the legislature, supervise the judiciary and balance the government power. That's why I'm standing."

Party members

Talk of election-rigging and balancing the power of the government is a far cry from the official election activities. At one gathering, a handful of carefully picked voters - many of them party members - applauded politely as an election candidate vowed to bring the party closer to the people.

Three of the hopefuls were party members, the fourth was a teacher whose CV emphasised her study of Marxism, Leninism and Mao Zedong theory.

Politics is changing in China day-by-day, but slowly Liu Junning Political scientist

This is the type of democracy the Communist Party would like to see - loyal candidates preaching to the converted.

But this year an increasing number of independents are pushing the limits, reflecting a political spectrum which is becoming more vocal.

Their demands have not, however, been reciprocated by any signs of political reform from the new leadership, according to political scientist Liu Junning.

"Politics is changing in China day-by-day, but slowly," he said.

"But that doesn't suggest substantial political reform. Political reform is something from the top down. In the meantime, political change takes place automatically, day by day, bottom up."

And Shu Kexin has been representing that change as he trudges through the lanes. His bid to stand has been turned down by the election commission. But he has been hoping a loophole in the election law would work in his favour, and voters would write his name on the ballot.

His modest aims have been rebuffed - a sign that the Chinese Communist party seems as unwilling as ever, to tolerate any challenge, however small, to its power.