After holding an impressive record of winning thrice in a row in the lok Sabha polls from Chandigarh parliamentary seat, Congress sitting MP Pawan Kumar Bansal is all set for another electoral bout from the city.
Brushing aside the ‘taint’ argument, the Congress had renominated Bansal from Chandigarh on Thursday.After coming out clean from corruption allegations in Railway Board Scam, the four-time MP has now set his eyes to register fifth victory from the city’s lone lok Sabha seat.
Even as the Railway bribery scam has provided the Opposition with welcome ammunition to attack Bansal during the election campaigning, Bansal is confident to continue his winning streak in the elections.Putting on a brave face, Bansal, the sitting MP from the seat is now ready to take on the Opposition and also claimed that the issue of Railway bribery scam will not affect the poll results. “The general public is aware of the true facts and would support me in the ensuing lok Sabha polls,” said sitting MP and Congress candidate Pawan Kumar Bansal while talking to The Pioneer.
In 2009, Bansal won the seat by 58,967 votes from his main rival BJP candidate Satya Pal Jain. He had won earlier in 1991, 1999, 2004 and 2009 and had tasted electoral defeat in 1996 and 1998. Excerpts:
What would be the main election agendaIJ
Bringing development and strengthening law and order situation in Chandigarh are the key agendas. Besides, empowering Municipal Corporation, strengthening health services and higher education in the city would also be the focus areas. There is a need to transfer more departments to the civic body from the Chandigarh Administration. Also, Mayor should have more executive powers and a Council should be formed in Municipal Corporation to look after the developmental projects of Chandigarh. The UT Master Plan-Vision 2031 would also be a priority.
After the Railway bribery scam, corruption charges were levelled against youIJ You also had to resign from the post of Union Railway MinisterIJ Charges of criminal conspiracy and corruption have been framed against your nephew Vijay Singla in the case.
The Central Bureau of Investigation gave me clean chit in the scam. Also, a special CBI court has rejected the plea that I had been spared purposely by CBI in the scam. I have been saying this from the very first day that I have no involvement in the scam. People have been filing cases to reinvestigate the matter again and again but the investigation agencies have not found any evidence against me and I have already been given clean chit. Considering the same, the party has reposed their faith in me and I have been renominated from the Chandigarh parliamentary constituency seat.
The Opposition parties have planned to target you over corruption charges and your alleged involvement in Railway bribery scam. The Opposition will be publicising the Railgate during their election campaign. Do you think the issue will influence poll resultsIJ
No, this is not an issue any more. The Opposition parties are stuck with ignorance and political malice against me. They have been continuously attacking me over the issue though I have already been given clean chit. The general public is fully aware of the facts and the misinformation campaign of the opposition will not affect the lok Sabha elections at all.
What would go in your favour in the electionsIJ
The good work I have done for my constituency in last 15 years. Chandigarh has witnessed many developmental projects and new trains have connected the city with other parts of the country. Education and health facilities have improved a lot in the past five years. The success of slum rehabilitation project in Chandigarh is one of the major achievements. Being a four-time MP from Chandigarh, I am well-versed with the major issues of the city. People from all sections of the society have extended their support in last three elections and I am confident to register another victory from the seat this time.
How do you look at your opponentsIJ AAP has fielded actor-turned-politician Gul Panag to contest against you from Chandigarh parliamentary seat.
Gul Panag’s father lt Gen Panag (retd) was my classmate in school days and Gul is like a daughter to me. She is a celebrity and I am happy that she is fielded by the AAP. In politics, one has to understand the main issues, the geography of colonies and sectors…there is no policy of “he came, he conquered” in politics and you have to remain for long time in politics to win people’s heart. I have been in politics since a long time and have the peoples support.