Entering the hurly-burly of politics, noted educationist, Director and Principal of Delhi Public School, Bokaro Steel City, Dr Hemlata S Mohan, sounds confident of winning her maiden electoral battle from Dhanbad constituency in Jharkhand. But Hemlata S Mohan is pitted against heavyweights like Bharatiya Janata Party's sitting MP Pashupati Nath Singh, Bokaro MLA Samresh Singh of the Jharkhand Vikash Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P), Congress's Ajay Dubey and former MP and TMC leader Chandrashekhar Dadai Dubey.
She joined the All Jharkhand Student Union (AJSU) on March 24, exactly a month before voting in the constituency. Speaking to IBNLive she says she remains an educationist but has joined politics as people are looking for positive change even as she dismissed BJP's claims of a Narendra Modi wave in the state.
Below is the full transcript of the interview:
IBNLive: You have been a highly successful teacher and associated with one of the best school in the country for a long time. So why have you made this move towards politics? Why now?
Hemlata S Mohan: Actually I am still an educationist; I am doing the same kind of work with the same mindset. Coming to politics is a change, is an opportunity. I have been invited by AJSU to work for them. If a party thinks that women should also participate, they should also work and contest election then why should we not participate. Because none of the other parties have given a woman any kind of participation I thought to associate myself with AJSU.
IBNLive: Fighting Lok Sabha election is a big thing; you have joined All Jharkhand Students' Union now. Do you think the time frame is adequate for you to spread your message across the constituency?
Hemlata S Mohan: Yes, I do agree that the time is an important criteria and I have very little time in hand to do this work. But at the same time nothing is impossible if we try hard.
IBNLive: So what will be you campaign strategy, will you be focusing on national issues or the local issues of Dhanbad?
Hemlata S Mohan: See both issues are important, there are various local issues that are to be addressed and at the same time development and changes are taken care of and we have to move ahead. There are lot of things which are to be taken care of.
IBNLive: You are pitted against very strong candidates from Dhanbad, BJP is fielding sitting MP and JVM has named the Bokaro MLA. Who do you think is your strongest opponent?
Hemlata S Mohan: Right now I am not thinking about my opponents. I am in the field on my strength and I will try hard, people wants change. I will try my best to be the needed change.
IBNLive: Do you think there is a Modi wave as the BJP is portraying, especially in Jharkhand. BJP is claiming to sweep all the 14 Lok Sabha seats from the state?
Hemlata S Mohan: No, I don't think, there is no such wave. I am meeting people and I could not comprehend it as yet. Yes, people are eager for a change, a positive change that works, but no such waves are around.
IBNLive: Since the year 2000, when Jharkhand was formed, it has been politically unstable; hardly any development work has been done. What is your plan or your party's plan to tackle this issue?
Hemlata S Mohan: See the need is change; I am here to bring that change. Empowerment of women, empowerment for all, equality and prosperity is needed. Development is needed is state and my party believes in it and is committed to bring that development in the state, that's why it want me to reach Parliament. We will talk about development, education and obviously special status to Jharkhand is other important issue we will be addressing. The party wants participation of youth and women and development and growth through them.
IBNLive: As you mentioned special status to Jharkhand is a key issue you will be considering, there are parties like JDU who have similar demands. Do you look forward for any alliance with parties with similar demands?
Hemlata S Mohan: No, right now we are not working on any such plan, we are contesting alone but in a larger interest if its needed we may look into it, but for now we are not looking for any alliance.
IBNLive: My last question, both the cities of Dhanbad and Bokaro have so many good schools, but there is no good higher education option available, except ISM Dhanbad and a medical college in Dhanbad. We see a large number of students moving out of these cities and as an educationist what will you do in this regard?
Hemlata S Mohan: Yes, higher education is a core issue we need to consider. Institutes with good national and international repute for medicine, engineering etc are needed in the area, a demand of university is pending for long now. We will be working on the issue. Apart from the education health and water are other key issues we need to address.
IBNLive: Thank you ma'am for speaking to IBNLive.com.
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