Backed by a team of youngsters, Poonam has been running her campaign on social media as well as in the field at full throttle. She spoke to Priyanka Navalkar on why voters are going to choose her once again.
Excerpts:
What are your poll strategies?
I don’t have a poll strategy. I believe I have three things as a strategy. The first being I am accessible. Second, I am accountable for my work and third, and very importantly, I have a positive approach.
My political mantra is the 3Ps — Public Politician Partnership. When a society works together as partners, it inspires us to implement the right things at a faster rate as compared to doing it alone.
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How are you reaching out to your voters?
In the last five years, the new generation has connected with me through several platforms, be it in person or through social media. But social media has played a significant role in making the connection, who keep pointing out to me what is happening and what has to be done by tagging me through several social media platforms.
Moreover, young groups who are doing some great works in their fields have connected with me. With these little young non-governmental organisations, entrepreneurs, who want to contribute to the country and are connected to me, which makes me feel blessed.
What are the core issues in the Mumbai North Central constituency and how do you plan to tackle them?
Since it’s a large constituency ranging from Vile Parle to Bandra, the problems are many. I have worked on lot of policies. Mostly one-third of Mumbai lives on the government land. We have rehabilitated over 30 percent people and have also worked out policies for transferring the houses easily.
What do you feel about your opponent from Congress, Priya Dutt?
Sadly, what makes me feel bad is that Dutt had earlier decided not to contest, but eventually decided to do so after the party president asked her to do so. Had she decided to contest polls for the betterment of the people in her constituency, it would have been much better.
What’s your take on youth unemployment ?
The opposition is just telling lies as the job opportunities have been created time and again. Ten years ago, who would have thought there would be a post for a social media manager and a copywriter, who writes content for celebrities as well as politicians. Nowadays, we donot see people taking to the streets to demand for jobs in the railways or other sectors. Things have changed and the present situation is just a false propaganda used by the opposition.
A few people have accused you of going missing from your constituency.
(Laughs!) It’s a very natural opposition agenda. Instead, the opposition should ask me if I have done this or done that. My office is very much approachable and I am very active on social media as well. If someone tags me and questions me on social media, I make it a point to answer them. So much so that my constituency is the first to complete the target of one booth twenty-five youth set by party president Amit Shah. I have connected with all my voters and I am there because of these people.
