Navjeevan Express launches a special column by R Arivanantham, Executive Editor, Know your candidates, to create an awareness among the voters and help take an informed decision in safeguarding the democracy
- The contrast between the experienced Poonamben Maadam and the youthful JP Marvia sets the stage for a riveting contest
- Active interventions of Poonamben Maadam in Parliament have immensely benefitted people of Jamnagar, Dwarka
R ARIVANANTHAM
AHMEDABAD, APRIL 13
Jamnagar Lok Sabha Constituency in Gujarat is an important industrial and defence corridor contributing to the Vibrant Gujarat, AtmaNirbhar Bharat’s major economic development. This political powerhouse reflects a diverse demographic owing to the presence of the world’s largest oil refinery and upcoming green energy project and remains a crucial constituency of Gujarat for both the national parties – Bharatia Janata Party (BJP)and the Indian National Congress.
BJP has renominated Poonamben Maadam, a two-time MP, who has nourished this constituency well. The Congress has fielded Jamnagar District Panchayat member and youth Patidar, JP Marvia, a novice to take on the veteran. As the battle of democracy picks up momentum, the contrast between the experienced Poonamben Maadam and the youthful JP Marvia sets the stage for a riveting contest. Incidentally, Maadam commenced her political journey with the Congress and then shifted to the BJP.
The saffron party has the first mover advantage, rides high on the charisma of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the recent consecration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The party’s women-centric welfare schemes, creation of large-scale job opportunities for skilled and unskilled youth in their native districts, and helping the flood-hit farmers in time-bound manner, holding of Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam have boosted the winning prospects of the BJP.
યુવાનો, મહિલાઓ સૌ માટે શિક્ષણ, રોજગાર, સહાય-યોજનાઓ, આરોગ્ય સુવિધાઓ, રક્ષણ સહિતની જીવનજરૂરી બાબતો પહોચતી કરતા છેવાડાના માનવી માટે "અંત્યોદયનો અરૂણોદય"થયો હોઇ, સૌ આગેવાનો તેમના જીવનની ગતિશીલતા માટે #PhirEkBaarModiSarkar માટે વચનબદ્ધ થયા.
|| જય બળેજની બારકા || (૨/૨)#HalaarNiDikri pic.twitter.com/iWEducwZVn
— Poonamben Maadam (Modi Ka Parivar) (@PoonambenMaadam) April 14, 2024
Career graph of Poonamben
50-year-old Maadam’s political career has been marked by significant achievements, including her tenure as the MLA representing Khambhalia in Dwarka District.
In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, she defeated her uncle, Ahir Vikrambhai Arjanbhai Maadam of the Congress by 1,75,289 votes from the Congress fort Jamnagar. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, witnessed Maadam secured 5,91,588 votes, while Kandoriya Mulubhai Ranmalbhai of the Congress, garnered 354,784 votes, thus establishing a vast and comfortable margin of 2,36,804 votes.
Performance appraisal of Poonamben Maadam
As curtains fell on 17th Lok Sabha, the statistics of the Lok Sabha Secretariat show that Jamnagar MP Poonamben Maadam was more active in the Parliament than an average Lok Sabha MP.
The attendance of Poonamben Maadam was 85% while the national average attendance was 79%. During the question hours, Poonamben asked 289 questions, 79 more than the national average. During the same term, Poonamben also introduced two private member’s bills, which were more than the national average (1.5) and Gujarat state average (0.8).
Poonamben’s unwavering commitment to the Parliamentary values and her constituents is evident in her performance in 17th Lok Sabha, she clocked more than 90% attendance in 8/15 sessions in 17th Lok Sabha. Issues and problems of Jamnagar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts, that fall under her constituency, remained at the top of her priority as she raised questions ranging from PM-Kisan Credit Card Scheme to LPG facility and vacancy in Gujarat Maritime Board to doubling of railway lines. Similarly, she also raised questions about handloom haat, welfare schemes for orphan children and senior citizens, reservation in job for SCs, use of local language in High Court, hostels for working women, starting food parks in Jamnagar among others.
PoonambenwholeheartedlyparticipatedindiscussionsonallbudgetstabledbyModi2.0 government andappreciatedthe visionofPrimeMinisterNarendraModi to makeIndiadevelopedby2047throughinclusivedevelopmentofall.
Giving a big hand to farmers, education
She also pressed for adequate compensation to farmers who suffered loss of crops due to heavy rains in Jamnagar constituency, emphasised on how Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda is not only important for Jamnagar or Gujarat but for the entire country. With the Institute of Teaching and Research getting the status of Institute of National Importance in 2020, she has played a key role in carrying forward the legacy of ayurvedic research in Jamnagar. In another discussion she also explained how recycling of ships will not only boost India’s economy but also generate local employment.
Waste to wealth projects
Poonamben also tabled Code on Social Security (Amendment) Bill with a vision to secure the medical expenses of women. And, in 2023 she introduced Wind Turbine and Solar Energy Waste (Handling, Disposing and Recycling) Bill to ensure that waste generated by wind turbine and solar energy devices are handled and disposed as per proper norms and responsibilities and duties of manufacturers, recyclers and consumers are fixed.
Through various interventions and legislative activities of Poonamben in the Parliament, the people of Jamnagar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts have immensely benefited.
Opposition-mukti Jamnagar
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, there has been a big change in the politics of Jamnagar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts. Recently, several senior Congress andAAP leaders of these districts took a major decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with their hundreds of supporters and extend unwavering support to Poonamben and the BJP.
Commenting on this, Poonamben said, “More and more people are now believing in the vision of Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modiji and therefore they have joined with all their energies in this sacred cause. I welcome all of them to realise the promise of our beloved Prime Minister to make Viksit Bharat.”
In all 22 Congress leaders with over 400 supporters from different regions of Jamnagar Lok Sabha constituency joined BJP. These include sitting corporator of Jamjodhpur municipality, former and current members of district and taluka panchayats, and several current and former sarpanches among others.
With AAP National Convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal languishing in Tihar jail and the Congress lacking leaders like late Madhavsinh Solanki and Ahmed Patel to checkmate the saffron juggernaut’s onslaught, it is advantage Poonam Maadam in Jamnagar.
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