Ahemdabad:
He is just 21 and like any other college-going young man. But he has taken a plunge in politics with the aim that he becomes the young face of change. Shahezad Khan Pathan, well, possibly could be your next corporator.
Pathan has filed nomination as a Congress candidate from Danilimda ward for the next month's AMC elections. He is currently pursuing BCom at a college affiliated Gujarat University and is perhaps the youngest candidate from the Congress party.
Asked what he wants to do if elected, the young aspirant says he would bring a change in the ward. "My family has shown me the kind of civic amenities Danilimda ward has. There is no drainage line, no solid waste management, and there are no streetlights in the area. I aim to solve all these problems if people choose me as their representative," Pathan answers in decent English.
Pathan's parents own a construction firm and stay in Danilimda. Pathan studied in a school at Mt Abu and did a diploma in business management in Australia. "It was during my two-year stay in Australia that I realised Rahul Gandhi's concern that young people should join politics and be part of the change they want. Then I decided that when I go back to India, I will join politics and that is why I chose to contest AMC election," says Pathan. Apart from Pathan, the Congress has fielded another young candidate. She is 21-year-old Kailash Takore, who will contest from Lambha ward. She is a class 10th pass-out.
For the BJP, the youngest candidate is 23-year-old Vilas Sohelia from Vasna ward.
The fourth child of a municipal servant's family, Sohelia has done a BA. She has also done a certificate course in accountant management in computer. She lives in a slum and gives free tuition to around 20 schoolchildren. Sohelia got a chance to fight the elections as one seat in Vasna ward is reserved for a female candidate (scheduled caste). Her political exposure
is limited to having participated in some rallies. "If people elect me as a corporator, my priorities will be providing proper road network and solve the issue of inadequate water supply in slum areas," says Sohelia. She says she will also build some public bathrooms in slum areas.
789 candidates in fray.
At the end of the last day for withdrawal of the nominations on Tuesday, a total of 789 candidates were left in the fray for 192 seats of 64 wards in Ahmedabad.
Besides the BJP and the Congress, smaller parties like NCP, MJP and LJP have fielded their candidates. There are also independents.
The highest number of 23 candidates are in Vatva ward, whereas the lowest number of six candidates are in Vasna and Asarwa.
The polling will be conducted on October 10.