The Samajwadi Party's lone Lok Sabha candidate in Bihar Ghanshyam Tiwari said he has a set of "achievable goals" in mind for the development of Karakat constituency, unlike many BJP nominees who are "only banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi" to sail through the elections.
An alumnus of IIM-Bangalore, Kellogg School of Management and Harvard Kennedy School in the US where he studied of public administration, the 39-year-old SP spokesperson, who is fighting elections for the first time, said his aim is to "inject fresh and youthful energy into politics" in his home state.
The native of Gorari village in Bihar's Rohtas district claimed that he had the option of choosing a constituency in Uttar Pradesh to fight the polls.
"But I am returning to my roots because I believe change is possible through electoral interventions. Even while pursuing higher education abroad, there was always a thought at the back of my mind to do something from Bihar. So I see my entry into electoral politics a natural progression for the change I seek in Bihar," Tiwari told PTI in an interview.
"Politics is about setting an agenda for society and working towards that vision with faith and a set of achievable objectives. That is what I intend to do," he said.
"In my manifesto, I have declared that if the people of Karakat vote me to parliament, I will work on two promises that I have made ensuring intermediate-level education for all girls and jobs for one lakh youth."
Asked if his education in Harvard and Kellogg will come in handy in fighting the polls, a confident Tiwari replied, "I learned leadership qualities in colleges, universities and in the corporate world. This election is the ultimate test of leadership."
Asked, if he is unnerved by the fact that he is a newcomer and is facing stiff opponents such Kushwaha and Singh who have already carved out their places in politics, Tiwari rebuffed, "Of course not. I am here to challenge the status quo, to reboot Bihar, especially Karakat constituency, which because of its strategic location is perfect to be turned into an industrial and tourism hub."
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