India’s youth power must be nurtured: Poonam Mahajan

She is among the youngest candidates from the BJP making a pitch for an MP’s seat for the first time. And predictably enough, Poonam Mahajan is raring to go.

“It does not matter who I am fighting. Be it a two- or 10-time MP, it’s the same process, same pressure and same hard work. It is a fight between the Congress and BJP and not between a two-time MP and a newcomer,” the fiery daughter of the late Pramod Mahajan says.

Mahajan will take on two-time Congress MP, Priya Dutt, in the North Central Mumbai constituency.

According to her, the current bunch of MPs representing Mumbai have done very little for the common man — the issue of spiralling food inflation, the rising number of train accidents, women’s safety and slum redevelopment/rehabilitation.

“Mumbai has had five MPs from the Congress and one from the NCP for the last two terms. Please ask them if they have raised any questions or participated in any debates in the Lok Sabha,” Mahajan demands.

And how will she be different? By being easily available and taking up cudgels on behalf of the aam aadmi, she replies. If she wins, Mahajan says the BJP will come up with a proper youth policy.

“This country is getting younger by the day and the youth power needs to be nurtured. Providing job-oriented education will be one of the key elements of the youth policy,” she elaborates.

It is all too clear that Mahajan has no love lost for the Congress. “One vote for the Congress will mean a vote for inflation, corruption and for Rahul Gandhi whose leadership can hardly be seen,” she says. Well, what does the BJP have to offer we ask, and the response is sharp: “One vote for the BJP means no scam and no inflation under the able and strong leadership of Narendra Modi.”

Asked if she would like to eventually play a larger role in the party, she is quick to reply that she is already in an active space.

“I have done whatever was given to me by the party. I was and still am in the team for first time voters’ registration. Amitbhai (Shah) was our head and he has given me full liberty.”

A media-shy Mahajan says she would rather let her work do the talking. “I am much calmer than before and I have learnt that from politics. Earlier, I wanted everything to be done immediately. Now, youthful energy has given way to sobriety,” she says.

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