Jamshedpur: In her poll debut from Jamshedpur east, stakes are high for both 30-year-old Purnima Sahu as well as BJP. The saffron party’s dominance over Jamshedpur east since 1995 ended when the then chief minister Raghubar Das was defeated by independent candidate Saryu Roy.
Das, a five-time MLA from this constituency, is currently serving as Odisha governor. Back home, his daughter-in-law is sweating it out to restore the legacy of her father-in law. Talking to TOI, Sahu conceded that her victory will give her an opportunity to restore and restart the pro-people and development works, laid by Das. In the last assembly polls, Roy, previously a BJP member, contested independently against Das after being denied a party ticket. Despite serving together in the cabinet from 2014 to 2019, both maintained adversarial ties.
“I am not feeling any pressure, but enjoying meeting people,” Purnima said, as she sat for a chat at her residence after a 5-km yatra meeting morning walkers in Sidhgora since 5 am. Scores of political meetings and sabhas were lined up for her from 10 am. A mother of a 4-year-old girl, Purnima was all praise for her mother-in-law for taking care of her child in her absence. “She (kid) is a very understanding child. Despite having a busy schedule, I always make sure to spend some time with my daughter,” she added.
Ever since BJP named Purnima’s candidature, a string of rebellion ran in local unit of the party many of whom accused Das’s family of making this seat into their fiefdom. Opposition too is using it to criticise Das. But, Purnima doesn’t consider her candidature as dynasty politics, but opposition’s bid to create a ‘false perception’ as they don’t have any credible issue.
“If that was the case, then I should not be working hard to convince the voters. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi has clarified even in the Parliament, dynasty politics is something which Congress, JMM, SP, RJD indulge in. The party that is run solely by one family. In BJP, it doesn’t happen. Moreover, my father-in-law is no more fighting polls here,” she said.
“BJP saw potential in me and hence chose me. Going by the response I am getting, voters, especially women, are considering me as someone who will stand by them.”
A former journalist-turned-home maker-turned-poll debutant, Purnima said she loves doing social service and politics would help her further. She said, “My focus will be women’s overall well being, health and education. There is still a lot to be done. Wherever I am going, people are telling me that many good work initiated by my father-in-law during his tenure got derailed under this current govt.”
Her rivals on this seat are claiming her victory will turn her as proxy MLA, while the seat will be controlled remotely by someone else. “That is opposition’s ploy to mislead people as they know I am a woman with vision and commitment,” she signed off.