By Matters India Reporter
Patna: A Jesuit college in Patna, capital of Bihar, October 29 organized a “know your candidate” event as a three-phase exercise is underway to elect the 243 members to its Legislative of the eastern Indian state.
Some candidates of Digha, one of the assembly constituencies in Patna, made expounded their political ideologies and stand on public policy at the event organized by St Xavier’s College of Management and Technology.
The participants included Sanjeev Chaurasiya of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shashi Yadav of Communist Party of India-Marxist-Lenist, Sanjay Kumar Singh of Rashtriya Lok Samta Party and Shambvi of The Plurals Party.
They identified various problems of the constituency and spelt out their “vision and mission” to set things right. They also presented their plan for the welfare of minorities.
The candidates also assured the Christian minority community of safeguarding its “respectable rights.”
Initiating the debate, Chaurasiya recounted his achievements as the sitting legislator in the last five years. He said he was committed to the BJP’s agenda of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas” (Together, for everyone’s growth, with everyone’s trust).
Turning to the Christian community, he said: “I had started my election campaign from St Michael’s High School in Digha where I learnt the first lesson in sanskar,” he said.
He said he has taken up work for the proper development of 55 slums. “I have now moved a proposal for the riverfront development. The Centre will, hopefully, take a decision on it soon,” he added.
Yadav said the government was developing the state by using bulldozers to raze the houses of the poor. Referring the lack of job opportunities, she said the Patliputra Industrial Area was in a moribund state.
“If elected, I will work for the revival of the Industrial Area,” she said while referring to the sufferings of the migrant workers during the Covid lockdown. “I will also ensure respectable salary for skilled women whose wages, at present, was abysmally low,” she added.
She also hit out at the “people trying to break the secular fabric” of the country.
Sanjay Kumar Singh said the constituency was facing five problems—“jobs, education, health, traffic jam and crime”. He said if elected to the assembly, he would ensure opening of mohalla clinics and model schools in the constituency. “I will also work for the opening of a hi-tech hospital where every citizen would be provided medical facility free of cost,” he added.
He also promised a vending zone to rid the area of frequent traffic jam.
Shambvi said 1024 acres of land in Rajiv Nagar and Nepali Nagar areas of the constituency were disputed and no serious effort had been made to resolve it. As such the area lacked basic amenities, she said. “With no street light in the area, the security of women was at stake,” she added.
Raising the issue of poor drainage, Shambvi said recently she had to wade through knee-deep water to reach Nirala Nagar. “The sewage system has collapsed. The archaic system needs to be modernized immediately,” she added.
She said many jobs could be generated in the state by revamping and reviving the closed mills and opening new industries.
Listing her priorities, Shambvi said she would work for “respectable rights of slum dwellers, creation of vending zone and providing a decent housing scheme.”
The event was moderated by Jesuit Father Prashant Pius Osta. Earlier, welcoming the candidates and guests, Jesuit Father Raj Kumar stressed the importance of knowing the “vision and vision” of candidates before casting votes.
Bihar the elections on October 28 and the Digha constituency will go to polls on November 3.
A good initiative. Unfortunately the two giants of Bihar, the RJD and JDU seem to have been absent.