200 days of Modi govt: My responsibility is clearly defined, says first-time BJP MP Pratap Simha

Pratap Simha, 38, is not a politician by profession, but became one by circumstance. A journalist until he embraced the BJP weeks before the Lok Sabha polls, he thinks his life has taken a dramatic turn ever since his election as an MP. “Earlier, I enjoyed the absolute freedom of expression, and my opinions through my column were seen as my independent views. But if I say similar things now, regardless of their objectivity, they are seen as the BJP’s views, and I come under attack. I am doing a tightrope walk as I have to talk less, get everyone along, and show results,” says the youngest MP from Karnataka, who represents Mysuru-Kodagu constituency in the Lok Sabha.

The former journalist is both happy as well as uneasy that all sorts of problems are thrown at his doorstep — whether they are the mandate of an MP or not. People complain to him for seemingly-trivial issues — from non-removal of garbage in a certain Mysuru locality to minor problems in a gram panchayat in a rural suburb.

“I am, however, happy about one thing: there is a great deal of awareness about the PM’s Clean India campaign, and people are voluntarily organising clean-up programmes, and inviting me to be part of them,” Simha says.

Ask him about his contribution to his constituency comprising two districts and about 2.9 million people, and he reels off the details: like speeding up the work on doubling of railway tracks between Mysuru and Bengaluru; getting a proposed high-speed rail project extended up to Mysuru; commissioning a survey for train services up to Kodagu district, amongst many more.

“Mysuru gets more tourists in a year than the Taj Mahal, yet we don’t have a Passport Seva Kendra. I have got a passport seva camp which will soon be upgraded into a kendra,” Simha says.

On life as MP in the Modi era, he says it is a demanding job. “Every BJP MP has his role and responsibility clearly defined. No one can skip Parliament sessions nor escape responsibility. If there is a party meeting, you have to reach on time, otherwise the doors are shut. Each MP is accountable, and measured on what he or she has delivered. One will either perform or perish.” It’s the former, for now.