The ST-reserved Raichur Loksabha constituency is all set to witness a keenly watched contest between BJP’s sitting MP Raja Amareshwar Naik and Congress candidate G Kumar Naik, a former bureaucrat who is all set for his political debut.
Kumar Naik, who served as DC and district incharge secretary in Raichur district for over a decade was swarmed by people while he stepped in for campaigning.
Speaking on his shift to politics, Naik said that this decision was semi-impulsive with a strong intent to put his experience as a bureaucrat to use, in order to serve the people of Raichur Loksabha Constituency.
“That intent behind joining politics was that I should spend the remaining years of my life meaningfully. Having done 35 years of service in public life as a bureaucrat, the entire experience should be used and not be wasted. As the elections were coming soon after my retirement,I asked for the possibility of candidacy for this election. The AICC has gracefully accepted my request and fielded me as a candidate here,” Naik said.
The Raichur Loksabha constituency which falls under the Kalyana Karnataka region faces various issues related to healthcare, unemployment, education and lack of transport facilities. Recognising the issues as priority areas, Kumar Naik asserted that a systematic approach can resolve the issue in 10 years.
“The government of India has recognised Raichur and Yadgir as aspirational districts, which means there’s a lot of work that needs to be done here. I have worked here focusing on education, health and livelihood. Similar issues continue. Though there is a lot of improvement when it comes to per capita income, issues like education, health and malnutrition persist. The issues need a systematic approach, over a period of ten years. We can make a meaningful difference,” he said.
The former bureaucrat who will be taking on sitting MP Raja Amareshwar Naik from the BJP, acknowledged the implementation of guarantees as his ammo and the anti-incumbency against the BJP MP that could have way for his victory in his maiden election.
“There’s a huge anti-incumbency here, I believe the BJP MP has not visited these places. I have interacted with these people and I believe they haven’t even heard his name. They have not seen his face, there’s just this thing that they have an MP. The issues like the need for AIIMS, IIT have not taken up vigorously. There are 25 BJP MPs and not even one spoke about Raichur and Yadgir. Raichur’s voice was not heard at all. It did not leave the banks of Krishna. In saying your voice will be made to be heard by Loksabha,” said Kumar Naik.
“The guarantees were an interesting electioneering by Congress. The government implemented it when it came to power and this has gained a huge amount of trust among the poor and middle class. These are important in improving their livelihood and alleviating poverty. This is the perfect ammunition for electioneering and we are using it to great effect, the response is spontaneous,” the Congress candidate added.
Weighing in on BJP candidates seeking votes in the name of Modi. Kumar Naik countered saying that it’s the Siddaramaiah wave which is prevalent in the state. not Modi and asserted that Siddaramaiah’s strength as an asset for electioneering.
“Today it is time to be speaking about anti-incumbency of Modi rather than the wave of Modi. Wave of Siddaramaiah which is very prevalent in Karnataka and you can see, He’s a person who is very strong in his convictions and delivered 15 budgets. His strength will be an asset in our electioneering,” Naik further said.
Being thankful to the AICC for their trust in him for this elections, the former bureaucrat said that his sole objective is to take the voices from the bank of Krishna to the banks of Yamuna in Delhi.
Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
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