Former Chairperson of the Jharkhand State Khadi Board, Sanjay Seth, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls for the first time from Ranchi with a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket, has no qualms over seeking votes in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A popular figure in the business fraternity in Ranchi, Seth has been active in politics since 1974. However, he preferred being away from the limelight and served the party as an office bearer. Given an opportunity, he promises to address Ranchi’s water woes and develop it into a ‘lively’ city. In a conversation with The Pioneer, Seth talks about his journey, opponents and plans. Excerpts:
Q. The opposition claims that you seek vote in the name of Narendra Modi and not yourself as an individual. What is your reaction to this?
A. I am proud of our Prime Minister. I respect him, see him as an international, visionary leader and do not have any qualms in accepting that I am seeking votes in his name. I would like to dare Subodh Kantji or any other Congress party’s leader to seek vote in the name of Rahul Gandhi. I am quite sure that their deposit would be forfeited if they do that.
Q. What is your agenda for Ranchi this election?
A. There was a time when every colony in Ranchi had a pond. Now, those ponds have dried and we have created a concrete jungle in our city. My efforts would be to restore the natural beauty of the city and ensure holistic development at the same time. By holistic development, I am not only referring to employment generation and strengthening of civic amenities, but also to adding a soul to the city and making it lively. I will ensure that the city develops like Indore and Ranchi-ites feel proud of the beauty of their city. We will develop Ranchi into an education hub by bringing premiere educational institutions to the city so that our youths don’t have to migrate outside Jharkhand for education and jobs.
Q. You said that addressing water woes is one of your main agenda. How do you plan to do it?
A. We will get experts from different parts of the country to study about the various sources of water in and around the city. We have so many waterfalls, rivers and dams in our constituency, which can be used to end water woes in the city. The way Gujarat uses Sabarmati River to combat water crisis, we will use our water resources and ensure supply to every household through pipelines.
Q. The Congress has fielded former three-time union minister Subodh Kant Sahay against you in Ranchi. How do you see the contest?
A. The irony is that despite becoming a union minister so many times, he did not do anything for the city. In 15 years, he could not even set up a food processing factory in Ranchi despite being the food processing minister in the past. The voters will opt for a fresh face this time as they are disappointed by the inaction of Subodh Kant Sahay.