Unemployment key issue

Dr P Pookunhi Koya, the Janata Dal (U) candidate from Lakshadweep said unemployment in the island was his key campaign issue.

Dr P Pookunhi Koya, the Janata Dal (U) candidate from Lakshadweep, who is making his maiden bid to enter the Lok Sabha, on Wednesday said unemployment in the island was his key campaign issue.

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Talking to reporters here, Koya, a medical practitioner-turned politician, said providing the scheduled tribe status to children born in the mainland was also an issue which he would highlight during his campaign.

Koya said the government hospital in the island did not have a gynaecologist, due to which women were forced to come to Kochi for delivery and their children were losing the ST status, he said.

Copr and fish, abundantly available in the union territor were not having a good market outside as no efforts were being made for their value addition.

Koya expressed optimism in taking on his Congress rival, P M Sayeed, who is making a bid to enter Lok Sabha for a record 11th time.