We are ready to take on any opposition candidate: Girish Bapat

BJP has nominated five-time legislator and minister Girish Bapat from Pune Lok Sabha seat. Bapat currently represents the Kasba Peth assembly constituency from Pune. He hopes to cash on strong party cadre, a slew of development works and weak opposition. Bapat reveals his poll strategy in an exclusive tete-a-tete with Sanjay Jog.

You are the only minister to get a party nomination. What is your response?

I have served in many capacities as a corporator, legislator and now as a minister in the state cabinet. Now after 40 years of work I definitely want to try my hand at national level politics. I am quite lucky to be the party's nominee and confident of victory.

How do you quell dissent in your party and bring all factions together including BJP's associate member and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kakade?

Every member of the party is working hard in their own capacity. There is nothing wrong in having 10 aspirants against one seat, but at the end of the day, everybody knows only one will get the ticket to represent their party. But once the name is declared we all come together as a party and work in unison for the victory for the nominated member. There is no resentment or confusion. Ultimately, everybody is working for the victory of the party. As soon my name was declared I met every member including Sanjay Kakade. Now this time all will work together for my victory.

Opposition seems to be in total disarray. Will it come quite handy for your victory?

Yes, Congress is yet to finalize its nominee from Pune city. Like congressmen, we are also waiting. But it's their internal matter. We at BJP are very confident and upbeat to take on any candidate in opposition as we have done our homework very well. BJP's work at ground level is very strong. We will go to people with the list of extensive developmental works. I am a flag-bearer of PM Narendra Modi & CM Devendra Fadanvis' vision of development. We will surely win whoever is in the opposition.

As a minister, you had faced anger from Pune citizens on various civic issues. Will it hamper your prospects?

We pushed for Metro rail and initiated 3 lines of the metro in Pune, Pimpri, and Hinjewadi. We also proposed Ring Road through PMRDA along the border of Pune city so that heavy vehicles could not enter city limit. Internal roads project has also been undertaken with the expenditure of more than Rs 100 crore. These steps will reduce vehicular traffic and the traffic congestion would further ease out.

As MP what will be your priorities to transform Pune?

Projects like Pune Metropolitan Region Development Agency, funding from Japan International Cooperation Agency, Ring Road, National Highway, and many other important projects have been taken up by our govt. It was possible as BJP is in power at the local, state and national level. Projects with an investment of over Rs 70,000 crore have been initiated by our govt in Pune region. As an MP, I will see these works are completed in a time bound manner.