Indore: While the contest between BJP and Congress has become interesting with BJP fielding Shankar Lalwani against Congress candidate Pankaj Sanghvi, both are counting on Indore-2 assembly constituency for victory. It was evident on Wednesday when Lalwani reached Indore Press Club along with BJP election coordinator and Indore-2 MLA Ramesh Mendola to participate in a debate where his opponent Sanghvi, who is close to Mendola and his mentor Kailash Vijayvargiya, was also present to take part. Responding to a query, Sanghvi said, “Bhai (Mendola) madad hi nahi kar raha (Brother is not helping me)”.
Though reporters and workers of both the party present at the debate called, ‘Aamne-Samane’, laughed at Sanghvi’s statement, the importance of Indore-2 seat, which is bastion of BJP, was evident. In 2018 assembly elections, Mendola won the seat with a margin of more than 71,000 votes, which is highest in the state. Sanghvi believes that he can register a win on Indore Lok Sabha seat if he narrowed BJP’s lead in Indore-2 assembly seat.
BJP knows this well and therefore it made Mendola party election coordinator for Lok Sabha elections. Though he did not name Mendola, Lalwani said he is counting on party organisation for his win. Indore-4 seat is also crucial, which has been retained by Indore mayor Malini Gaud by a margin of 43,000 votes. SAPAKS candidate Deeraj Dubey also reached Press Club for debate with Lalwani and Sanghvi.
Will ensure city is among top-3 in living index: Lalwani
Lalwani said several development projects were launched during tenure of Sumitra Mahajan as MP and during BJP regime in the state. In last five years, the city developed exceptionally. “We build a network of roads, encouraged public transport, improved water supply, health services etc. There was a time when there should to be only 10 to 15 trains from Indore. Today, 100 trains run from the city. We also improved health services. A super specialty hospital is in the making. I also want to develop a centre for promotion of culture besides enhancing sports facility,” Lalwani said.
banking on organisation, says shankar Lalwani
Will raise tall statue of Ahilya Bai: Sanghvi
Sanghvi said he would get a big statue of Ahilya Bai Holkar raised in Indore like the one constructed of Sardar Vallabha Bhai Patel. Countering Lalwani’s claim, he alleged BJP failed in every sector. BJP did not construct hospital in city’s eastern part. No government hospital was constructed in Khajrana or Sanwer. “If win I will get a hospital set up in Khajrana and Sanwer,” Sanghvi said. He said he will make sure that Laxmibai railway station is expanded and a six-lane road between Pithampur and Mandideep via Indore is built. He said nobody would be displaced in name of acquisition without proper compensation. He also stated that Congress legalised 164 illegal colonies and more are in the pipeline. “I will also make efforts for job creation,” Sanghvi said.
On traffic and water
Lalwani and Sanghvi agreed that these are two main issues, which need to be addressed on priority basis. Lalwani: “A lot has been done for improvement on traffic flow but still more needs to be done. Ratio-wise, Indore has more four wheelers than Mumbai and Delhi. We are encouraging public transport. During our regime, 10 DPRs of 10 flyovers were approved. BJP government at Centre approved Rs 300 crore for the flyovers but Congress government lacks vision to construct them.”
Sanghvi: “BJP messed up vehicular traffic in the city. We will execute metro train project in such a way that traffic problem is addressed to a larger extent. On 10 flyover projects, it was PWD minister Sajjan Singh Verma who got projects approved from Centre. He stated that when flyovers will come up traffic problem of the city will be resolved.” Lalwani: “We are connecting many new areas to Narmada project. 15 overhead water tanks have been constructed, which will supply water to many new localities. Besides, we are also working on alternative water source.” Sanghvi: “We will build a dam on Gambhir river for providing water to Depalpur and connect Sanwer with Narmada project. Along with improvement of water supply in urban areas, there is need to supply drinking water to rural areas.”