Pune: Mahesh Gajendragadkar (56), a lawyer and resident of Kothrud is contesting the Lok Sabha elections 2019 for the first time. He is representing Swarna Bharat Party which was founded in 2016 by an economist and liberal Sanjeev Sablok. It is a pro-liberal party and believes that the root cause for the underdevelopment of the country is socialism. His main agenda is to work on local issues- solid waste management, encouraging terrace gardening, making Pune a hub for artificial intelligence, privatising municipal schools and giving direct financial help to poor children.

“Due to 70 years of a socialist pattern, India is not a progressed country. Socialism is the root cause of our country not progressing. Socialism controls the economy and doesn’t allow it to grow. A country can only progress with the idea of liberalisation,” said Gajendragadkar

“We want to abolish bureaucracy or IAS cadre with experts from respective fields, as their lack of planning and vision is ruining the country without any accountability. There should be a 100 per cent free economy and absolute privatisation will facilitate the country to grow,” added Gajendragadkar.

“We believe that every local issue is a global issue and are focusing on it. One of the major problems like solid waste management is a big crisis for the city. There are a lot of advanced machines available for domestic composting. If we encourage these practices, it can save the PMC 10 years of investment. Pune is rich in education and if elected, we will make the city a hub for artificial intelligence. The development in technology will also help in reducing the brain-drain.”

Gajendragadkar said that the manifesto includes dividing Pune Municipal Corporation into four different corporations, giving FSI at reasonable rates to every building to solve parking problems, encouraging terrace gardens, encouraging every citizen to generate power, limiting the expansion of the city and privatising municipal schools and giving direct financial help to poor children.

“We are speaking to various organisation and people to get support. Till date, we have received support from Shetkari Sanghatna, Kisan Putra Andolan and Maharashtra Military Foundation,” said Gajendragadkar.