Rohtak ZP chief Manju seeks BJP ticket to take on former CM Hooda
Tribune News Service
Rohtak, August 27
Manju Hooda, chairperson of the Rohtak Zila Parishad, has sought the BJP ticket from the Garhi Sampla-Kiloi Assembly constituency, which is the stronghold of two-time Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
Manju, while talking to The Tribune here today, said that she had applied for the BJP ticket from the Garhi Sampla-Kiloi constituency and would contest the election if the party gives her the go-ahead. “I hope that local residents, who had supported me in the Zila Parishad elections, will bless me in the upcoming Assembly poll as well,” she added.
Asked about the major issues in the constituency, she said that the youth in the grip of drug menace and the lack of awareness among women were the major concerns. “I will try my best to dissuade and save the youth from the drug menace and encourage them to focus on studies and sports for a bright future. I will also make efforts to make women aware of their rights and ensure their empowerment,” she added.
Manju said that most of the local residents hoped to get government jobs for their sons when the leader or the party they had supported comes to power.
“I want to end this deep-rooted mindset that political ‘sifarish’ is a must for selection to government service. I strongly feel that jobs should be given strictly on merit. Our children should understand that they have to study hard to secure jobs. They should also be prepared for private jobs or pursuing their own ventures,” she added.
She said that a majority of women did not even have the basic knowledge about political affairs, including elections. “A number of women, especially in villages, do not know for which party or candidates they have voted for and why. I want to make them aware of their rights so that they can know their actual worth and work for self-empowerment,” she added.
Asked how she would be able to defeat a big leader like Hooda, Manju said that “time changes and nobody knows what is in store for them unless they try”. She added, “So, I will give it a shot and let us see what happens.”
