This time, we want all 10 seats in Vidarbha in our grasp, says Sunil Mendhe

The atmosphere at KamalKunj the residence of BhandaraGondia MP and BJP candidate Sunil Mendhe in Madhav Nagar Bhandara reflects the bustling energy of election campaigning Upon our arrival Mendhe surrounded by a throng of party workers was gearing up for the campaign rally strategising their next steps A party worker proudly remarked ldquoThis has been the scene at sahebrsquos home from early morning till late night every day since he filed his nominationrdquoMendhe is regarded as one of the rising stars within the BJPrsquos state cadre having made significant strides in a short time A committed member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh RSS and a professional in the realms of construction and business Mendhe clinched victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections defeating NCPrsquos Nana Panchbuddhe thus upholding the BJPrsquos dominance in the BhandaraGondia constituencyIn an interview with midday Mendhe confidently asserted that he not only anticipates victory in this election but also envisions crushing his opponents by a margin of four lakh votes He contends that the Congress candidate is a relatively unknown figure in the constituency and stands no chance against him given the track record of his accomplishments within the constituencyAs a sitting MP representing the BhandaraGondia constituency in parliament what issues will you prioritise this timeA There are numerous ongoing development projects in the constituency and our focus will be on their completion and initiating new ones We are committed to supporting farmers and marginalised communities aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modirsquos vision for their upliftment Over the past decade our country has made significant strides in growth and development firmly establishing its presence on the global stage Our aim is to sustain this momentum by continuing the initiatives initiated by the PM Bhandara district has consistently excelled in the implementation of central government schemes particularly under the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme Our goal is to uphold this exemplary performance Furthermore we are actively advocating for the establishment of a dry port in Gondia with the feasibility test already approved and the project set to commence soonThe opposition here has been ridiculing ldquoModi ki Guaranteerdquo alleging it to be another empty promise What is your response to this criticismThese opponents have rarely contributed to the development of our region or our nation and thus their mockery of Modirsquos vision and policies holds little weight ldquoModi ki Guaranteerdquo is not merely rhetoric it serves as a firm directive for all elected officials to prioritise the welfare and development of our citizens For those who indulge in mocking such initiatives itrsquos akin to ldquoAngoor Khatte sour grapes for them We choose to focus on our agenda and the larger concerns at hand rather than being swayed by their commentsYour Congress rival has stated that the people of BhandaraGondia are discontent and weary of the BJPrsquos rule seeking a change What has been the response from the groundIrsquom uncertain which constituents they are referring to because throughout the constituency during our campaigns and interactions we have been met with warm welcomes and expressions of support I did not encounter any negativity or discontent for BJP or me among people Itrsquos not just about me people are particularly impressed by Prime Minister Modirsquos leadership and accomplishments He enjoys significant admiration and support in BhandaraGondia especially among women who believe he has spearheaded transformative change and development over the past decade This sentiment stems from Modirsquos commitment to delivering on his promises a departure from their experiences during the Congress rule over the preceding six decadesCongress is contesting the BhandaraGondia Lok Sabha seat after nearly 25 years and the candidate is a newcomer How do you perceive this contestThe individual in question secured merely 2000 votes in the state elections in 2014 however I donrsquot attach much significance to this My focus remains steadfast on my work regardless of who my opponent may be Frankly it wouldnrsquot have mattered to me even if Nana Patole Congress state chief himself had contested Similarly with Dr Prashant Padole in the race now itrsquos inconsequential to me Ultimately itrsquos the collective strength of the Congress party that stands behind them Given that this is Nana Patolersquos home turf itrsquos understandable that they are mobilising their full force which is perfectly acceptable to me Last time around the competition was tougher as Congress and NCP were united This time with NCPrsquos division and significant figures from NCP lending their support to us who wield considerable influence in this region I am encountering an even more favourable response compared to last timeSimilar to the ldquoabki baar 400 paarrdquo slogan the BJPrsquos state cadre has set its sights on all 48 seats in Maharashtra including the 10 in Vidarbha How do you perceive this ambitionModirsquos assertions are not made without merit They must be grounded in observations from the grassroots level Furthermore it serves as a rallying cry for all of us to redouble our efforts for the betterment of our nation and to secure our electoral seats Crossing the 400seat mark is certainly within reach as I see no significant obstacles hindering our progress Moreover in the previous Lok Sabha elections we lost just one seat in Vidarbha specifically in Chandrapur This time we are determined to reclaim it ensuring that all 10 seats in Vidarbha remain in our grasp48No of LS seats in state