"People facing problems related to education, health in Rajapur": Shiv Sena candidate Kiran Samant

Ratnagiri (Maharashtra) [India], November 4 : Shiv Sena leader Kiran Samant from Eknath Shinde's faction is set to contest the upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra from Rajapur assembly constituency. He is the brother of Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant.
Speaking to ANI, Samant said that people were facing difficulties in the Rajapur assembly constituency as there was no development there and that's why he has decided to contest from this seat. There are problems related to health and education, he added.
"When I wanted to contest the Lok Sabha elections, I visited six assembly constituencies. I got to know about the problems faced by people in the Rajapur assembly constituency. There is no development. There are problems related to education, health, and employment. The people there are facing a lot. This is why I decided to contest this seat. There are many challenges but I will solve the problems with the help of Mahayuti," the Shiv Sena candidate said.
Samant, who is contesting against Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) candidate Rajan Salvi, said that his opposition in the upcoming elections doesn't have any agenda to demand votes.
"If you look at the election trend, the talks about emotions don't work. Salvi who is contesting from this seat for the fourth time has always won on emotions. He has not been able to develop the area. Not even in education. If he goes to campaign, he will not have any agenda (for the elections) to demand votes. I will win by a huge margin. I am confident about it," he said.
When asked about the seat-sharing issues in Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), Samant said that he works at the local level and the top leadership including Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar will decide.
"Geographically, the Rajapur is a hilly region. During the monsoon season, there is waterlogging in this area. However, after the monsoon, it remains dry. Our Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who is also the Irrigation Minister has approved many pending works and this water problem in the area will be resolved within one year," he said.
"There is potential for tourism in this area. Goa is also near from here. There is a sea across 720 kilometres here in Maharashtra. We have forts and ancient temples. We also have hill stations. If we can develop, it can increase tourism in the region. There is a lot of potential," Samant added.
The Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with counting for all 288 constituencies set for November 23. In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena secured 56, and the Congress claimed 44. In 2014, the BJP won 122 seats, the Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42.