I am the change that people here want, says Dr Prashant Padole

The Congress candidate from the BhandaraGondia Lok Sabha constituency Dr Prashant Padole a medical professional might be a newcomer in the political arena but he is well known in Bhandara for his philanthropic work and the goodwill of his father Yadaorao Padole a cooperative doyen While many have questioned the Congress for picking Padole to contest against the BJPrsquos incumbent MP Sunil Mendhe Padole exudes confidence in his candidacy for the region he proudly calls homeHailing from Sakoli in Bhandara Padole expressed in an interview with midday that the people of BhandaraGondia have lost faith in the BJP and are yearning for change He firmly believes that he is the change people are looking forYou do have experience of contesting an election but are relatively new to politics yet you are facing a sitting MP and an established politician in the region How do you anticipate the battle will unfoldI am up against the sitting MP Sunil Mendhe a familiar figure in the region as the incumbent But appearances can be deceiving Upon closer inspection if you engage with the people of BhandaraGondia and examine the challenges they endure due to governmental neglect yoursquoll discover that he has fallen short as a public representative In truth while he may have been elected as an MP he has failed to address the needs of this constituency during his tenure This underscores the demand for change and I am that changeWhat do you consider as the significant issues for the Lok Sabha election in the constituency that you would prioritiseOver the past five years this region has witnessed a severe lack of development Not a single significant project can be attributed to the tenure of our elected representative Mendhe in my assessment has been one of the most inactive MPs Whether itrsquos the provision of water improvement of healthcare infrastructure tackling unemployment addressing farmersrsquo concerns or empowering women there has been a glaring absence of progress My foremost goal will be to address these issues headon and ensure the completion of stalled development projects and those that were neglected during Mendhersquos term Additionally this region primarily known for paddy cultivation lacks significant industrial growth I aim to advocate for industrial development which not only enhances economic prospects but also generates employment opportunities for localsCongress is contesting from BhandaraGondia after a hiatus of 25 years as previously the undivided NCP led by Praful Patel in the region fielded its candidates Now with Patel throwing his support behind the BJP how do you interpret this situationAs I mentioned earlier people are weary of the BJP Despite slogans like ldquoAbki baar Modi sarkarrdquo locals here dread that if that were to occur it would mean ldquoAbki baar mehengai paarrdquo This time itrsquos more inflation Inflation and unemployment have fuelled frustration and dissatisfaction among the people Hence whoever aligns with the BJP may find themselves lacking in peoplersquos support this time aroundIf you win what local issues from BhandaraGondiya would you prioritise in the central governmentI intend to advocate strongly for addressing the dire state of our healthcare system the urgent need for improvements in educational infrastructure and the pressing issue of unemploymentPrime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP leaders in the state are confident of securing victory in all 10 seats in Vidarbha As one of their rival candidates what is your response to thisI find their claim highly unlikely Even the notion of crossing the 400seat mark appears unrealistic They seem to be resorting to their usual tactics of making ldquoJumlasrdquo or hollow promises In reality their overconfidence seems to be a facade to mask their underlying apprehensions and fear