‘Like a true sportsman, I will fight to win’

Former CM Vijay Bahuguna’s youngest son

Saurabh Bahuguna

is fighting an

intense electoral battle

at Sitarganj, the constituency from where his father had won in 2012. Ever since, the junior Bahuguna has been nurturing the area which was seen as the preparation for his poll debut. In a conversation with Aakash Ahuja, the professional golfer who quit his sports career as well as a job with oil major ONGC to enter politics talks about the challenges that he is facing and how his

training as a sportsman

is helping him focus on securing a win


How prepared are you to contest the upcoming elections?

I m fully prepared and completely confident. Everyone knows that Congress does not stand any chance in Sitarganj. I am carrying forward my father's legacy who has not let any stone remain unturned for the development of this constituency. Besides the party cadre, I have my own support base in Sitarganj since I have been working here for almost five years.

Malti Biswas, the Congress candidate is from the Bengali community which has a significant presence. She is also a local who hails from the area. How are you going to counter that since you have been in the region for only a few years?

I may not be a Bengali but I belong to Sitarganj. My aim is not to work for only a specific community but for every section of society. People from all communities are giving their love and support to me which is evident in the turnout of my meetings. My father won the by-poll here with the biggest margin in the state and so will I.

What about dissidence within the BJP regarding your candidature. It was speculated that your father’s closeness to senior party decision-makers helped him in securing tickets for all the rebels and you?
My father has always been influential in politics. But he does not seek anyone's help or ask for favours. The party found me a deserving and winning candidate so I was given a ticket. Also, let me clarify that I have never been a member of the Congress. BJP is the first party in which I have done active politics and I have tremendous support from the party cadre.

What if you lose? Will you revert to being a professional golfer or continue in politics?

There is no question of losing. I have been a golfer, the game is my passion and like a true sportsman, I am also fighting these polls to win. I am confident that I will enter the state assembly as a legislator from Sitarganj.
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