Vitthal Tupe
NCP candidate for Lok Sabha seat
I am8230;Vitthal Tupe.
Zodiac sign8230;Virgo September 9, 1940.
My educational qualifications 8230; Appeared for BSc from Nowrosjee Wadia College and I hold a diploma in agriculture from Israel.
My family8230; We have four children. One son is an engineer, one is studying engineering, a daughter is an MBA and married and another is doing her MBBS.
When did I begin my career in politics8230; I entered politics in a big way during the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement in the 1950s. I was 12 and a student when I was involved in the Ganesh festival which is the breaking ground of most politicians. In my youth, I was a member of the Rashtra Seva Dal and that culture pervaded my life. I heartily supported all socialist movements. I flung myself headlong into politics. I was sent eight times to jail in Yerawada. I am closely associated with the Rayat Shikshan Sanstha and Sane Guruji Shikshan Sanstha. I contested for the first time in 1974 as a socialist. I have been a corporator, an MLA in 1978, 1980 and 1988 and an MP. I lost the polls in 1990. In 1992, I joined the Congress and in 1997 I won the elections against Suresh Kalmadi.
My reason for joining politics 8230;Since early childhood, the atmosphere at home was charged with politics. Being socialists, we were closely associated Madhu Dandavate, S.M Joshi and George Fernandes. So, I have been deeply influenced by them. Since I was in Rashtra Seva Dal, I was taught politics. It was the culture. A close relation, Ram Tupe, was already in the State Assembly. So it was natural for me to enter politics.
What have I done for the city8230;My door has always been open to the common man. They need no middle-men to approach me. So, I have catered to their welfare as a corporator, an MLA and an MP. But thirteen months in the Lok Sabha is very short to really do much. From the MP8217;s Local Area Development Fund, I made funds available for the University of Pune, Chandrashekhar Agashe Sports College, Hingne Stree Shikshan Sanstha among others. Since the former MPs had not utilised all of the funds, I got an added sum to spend.
I got Rs 5 crore worth work okayed for slum development. I launched a meet-the-people programme in which I was in contact with the people. I have 96 per cent attendance in the Parliament. For people suffering from heart ailments, cancer or kidney problems, we chalked out a programme to help them. We asked them to submit the papers and got them the necessary help. There are 317 such cases. We got the approval for institutions to start engineering and polytechnic courses.
At the corporation, we protested to bring down the water pipeline costs by 50 per cent. We forced them to do a rethink on the flyovers issue. We held forth on the toll issue. We proposed that they levy toll on vehicles from outside PMC, PCMC limits. Our argument was that the flyovers were to be built for the use of citizens. So why tax them? I have done whatever was required of me at the local, state and national level. But I don8217;t like to boast. I prefer to do things silently.
What I propose to do I f I am elected 8230; There are certain priorities. Water, traffic, trains. I plan to press for a Pune-Nashik railway link and introducing a new train to Kerala. Pune needs to be declared a mega-city. When we achieve this, we will press for a metropolitan status. The traffic is messy. The highways need to be linked from the outside. Katraj needs to be linked to Lonikand, to reduce the pressure. We will ensure this. We will put pressure for a development plan for the 38 merged villages. The farmers8217; needs in these villages need to be looked into.
What I propose to do If I am not elected 8230; I will win comfortably. The others have just the party name. By themselves, they are nothing. Pradeep Rawat has only the BJP8217;s claim to fame. It is only the party name. On the other hand, the voters know me. I have worked for them.
My most memorable moment 8230; I once received a phone call from an MLA. He asked me to help a relative who had met with an accident and was admitted to Sassoon Hospital. After a while, he called again to tell me that someone would come to collect the money. The person came and with due introduction took away Rs 5,000 from me. Later in the day, I went to Sassoon to visit the man. To my shock, I was told there was no one by that name admitted. I found out that the cheat had played such tricks on others too by fooling all of us with his voice. n My most embarrassing moment 8230;I have never had to be embarrassed, till now. It is my stoic nature to accept everything.
My most satisfying achievement in politics8230;Life has been good to me. Without my asking anything, I have got plenty. So, every moment is satisfying.
If not a politician, I would be 8230;a simple farmer. I would also continue with my social work. n My favourite hobby8230;I used to read a lot. And I write poetry.
My favourite food8230;Good food is what I appreciate. Since I am away from home, whatever is offered is good enough.
My favourite television programme8230; like to watch the Discovery channel. But with very little time now on hand, it is once in a while. n A superstition I believe in 8230;I believe in God and by His grace have got everything. I have no superstitions.
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