‘Mumbai will transform into a global-class city’
Campaigning in my rst direct election has allowed me to experience ground realities, engage with day-to-day issues, says the Union Minister
Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who has handled several portfolios such as Commerce and Industry, Railways, Finance, Consumer Aairs, Food and Public Distribution, Textiles, and more, is all set to contest his maiden direct election on Monday as the BJP candidate from the Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat. The
Hindu caught up with him in the middle of his campaign schedule. Excerpts: In your three-decade-long political career, you have never contested direct elections before. What
made you enter the fray this time?
The party leadership and Prime Minister Narendra Modiji thought that many of us who have been in Rajya Sabha for two or three terms should now look at going to the people’s court, getting connected directly with the people and experiencing the ground realities and situation, so that we can do our job better.
What are your takeaways from campaigning as a candidate?
I am hugely excited because for 40 years I have been working for the party in various elections in dierent roles, always supporting other candidates to get elected. This is the rst time I am a candidate. It gives me an opportunity to understand candidates’ psychology. This will help me emerge as a much more sensitive person, getting on the ground, engaging and connecting with day-to-day issues. What are your views on Parivarwad, given that your father, former Union Minister Ved Prakash Goyal, was also in the BJP?
We oppose the reservation of certain positions or seats only for a family. We strongly believe that if a person comes up in public life on his own merit, despite having family members already in public life, they are welcome.
My mother was an MLA for three terms from Matunga. She didn’t lose an election but chose to retire in 2004 as she had crossed the age of 65 and did not want to contest. She didn’t allow me to contest.
My father was in the Rajya Sabha till 2008; he passed away the same year. Till that time, I was a small functionary at the local level in Mumbai. The party in their wisdom took me to New Delhi as treasurer, then made me a Rajya Sabha MP. In 2012, Mr. Modi took me into his team for the Gujarat elections. I’m proud of my parents, their contribution to the country and society. I’m equally proud that I did not get any privileges with the ‘Goyal’ surname.
That is all a gment of imagination of certain sections of the Opposition. Mumbai is a compulsive investment destination; a powerhouse in terms of its various sectors where we are predominant, whether it’s trade or commerce.
The one constraint Mumbai always had was space. It was only after Devendra Fadnavis became Chief Minister that Mr. Modi could help Maharashtra create world-class infrastructure. Mumbai is going to transform into a vibrant, international-class city. There is a perception that several big projects and nancial services are going to Gujarat instead of Maharashtra these days...