Bharatiya Janata Party keeping its options open for the next Chief Minister if the party comes to power, the senior party leader and sitting MlA from Haridwar (urban) Madan Kaushik said on Wednesday that he was ready to take up the responsibility of the Chief Minister.
He said this after he submitted his nomination papers at the collectorate. “I am ready to become the Chief Minister if the party high command wants me to,” he said.
Among a host of candidates who submitted their set of papers on Wednesday for the February 15 poll from Haridwar district which has 11 seats-the highest for a district of the State was the three times Bharatiya Janata Party MlA from Haridwar (Urban) Madan Kaushik. Others who filed nominations were Pranav Singh Champion of BJP from Khanpur, BSP candidate Anju Mittal of BSP from Haridwar seat, Mamta Rakesh of Congress from Bhagwanpur and her brother- in- law Subodh Rakesh of BJP from the same seat.
The city Mayor Manoj Garg and sitting MlA from Ranipur Adesh Chauhan Kaushik accompanied Kaushik when the latter reached the colectorate. later, former State Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank also reached.
Before filing the papers, Kaushik offered milk to Ganga at Har Ki Pauri.
Speaking to The Pioneer, Kaushik, said, “If elected again, my priorities will be to enhance the health sector in the region. A super-specialty hospital would come up in public- private partnership. Besides, I would take initiatives for building a parking lot in the heart of the city to ensure smooth traffic flow. More employment opportunities for the youths are also on the cards.”
Notably, Kaushik has held various portfolios in the past 15 years like the state minister for urban development and the Maha Kumbh mela in- charge besides other organizational posts for BJP.