18 May,2009 10:05 AM IST | | Vivek Sabnis
Wants to develop Pune through the 2010 Commonwealth Games
After being elected for the third time as the Congress MP from Pune, Suresh Kalmadi immediately left for New Delhi early yesterday morning, giving rise to speculation that he has set his eyes on the sports ministry in the new UPA government.
When questioned, Kalmadi was evasive, but said, "Theu00a0 focus of my work is on the Commonwealth Games (CG)." The CG will be held in Delhi next year and a meeting on the project had been arranged in the capital. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and I are working together on this programme. Pune will also host some of the games," he said.
"Developing Pune is my agenda. I want to develop it along the lines of Delhi. I am working out some details with CM Dikshit," he added.u00a0
According to Kalmadi, sports events and development go hand-in-hand and he had proved this when he brought the Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) to Pune. The Games helped give Pune a modern look. "My voters have not forgotten my efforts to make Pune an internationally important destination for sports lovers. By electing me, they have actually given me the green signal to go ahead," he said.u00a0
u00a0"After the CYG, now the CG will help to forge a new identity for Pune. Pune will soon emerge as the city for sports on the world map. We will certainly get huge funds for developing the city. My final aim is to bring the Olympic Games to India, especially to Delhi and Pune," concluded Kalmadi.
