Ms. Chaudhary is impressed with Pune's rapid growth and knows that PUNE is growing at a very fast pace, the credit of which she devotes to Mr. Suresh Kalmadi and the Congress Party.

Mr. Kalmadi began his professional life as an Air Force Pilot, and participated in both the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971.

He has been a passionate supporter of the Armed Forces, and has strongly backed the modernization of the Armed Forces. He was instrumental in proposing that the Defence budget should be treated as non-lapsable, and that the balance sheet should be carried over to the next year. This has enabled the Defence Services to avoid losing funds when the clearances for their proposals were not given promptly.

He strongly supported the acquisition of Advanced Jet Trainers (AJT's) for helping in the training of pilots. India has recently signed agreements to acquire the AJT's from the U.K. He was also a strong supporter of maintaining our Military Edge in the subcontinent, and India has recently agreed to purchase an Aircraft Carrier from Russia.

Mr. Kalmadi has been a member of the Consultative Committee of Defence for the last 22 years, and of the the Standing Committee of Defence since its inception. During his tenure Mr. Kalmadi has been fighting for the cause of better service conditions for the defense personnel. He forcefully took up the case for implementation of salaries and perks for servicemen and as a result there has been a marked improvement. He has also been fighting for the ex-servicemen, especially in the matters of the pay commission.

He helped change the Cantonment laws and the new Cantonment Act has now been brought into the Parliament, and is on its way to passage.

He also fought for more sports in the Armed Forces, and now the Army Sports College is becoming a reality in Pune.

As the Chairman of the CWG 2010 Bid Committee, his most recent achievement was winning the bid to host the Commonwealth Games 2010 in Delhi, The CWG 2010 have a budget of Rs 1,988 crores and promises to change the face of Delhi just like the National Games 1994 changed the face of Pune.

Winning the honor to host the CWG 2010 has cleared the path for us to now bid for hosting the Olympics in 2016. China is hosting the games in 2008, they will be held in the west in 2012, and in 2016 it is fitting that the Olympics should return to Asia. Mr. Kalmadi is the Chairman of the Olympics 2016 Bid Committee. India will also be bidding for the World Athletics Championships in 2009.

"Somewhere during 2007, the Olympic evaluation team will arrive to see the infrastructure for both World meet and the Olympics and I am sure that we have enough infrastructure at Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune and Delhi and small infrastructure in other cities," Kalmadi has said.

Some of the the appointments that Mr. Kalmadi holds in the sports arena area

He was also the

• Chairman, Organizing Committee of Afro-Asian Games 2003
  
• Chairman, Organizing Committe of National Gasmes 1994

As the Asia Area Representative of the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations), his endeavor has been to highlight the problems and the difficulties which the Asian continent has been facing. He was first elected for 2 years, and now has been re-elected for 4 years, and was the first Indian to be nominated to the IAAF council.

Mr. Kalmadi was also the first Indian to be elected as the President of the Asian Athletics Association, an inernational athletics body having 45 countries as members.

"I have a dream to gear up and develop Pune for the 21st century and Puneites know that I can make it happen. I have a track record of achievements and fulfillment of desired goals in every sphere."
- Suresh Kalmadi

As Pune's representative in the Nation’s capital Delhi, by being elected to the Lok Sabha, Mr Kalmadi would

In addition, property tax has been reduced and it is now lesser than Hyderabad or Bangalore. Octroi has been rationalized. These have made Pune a favorable destination for new investment. To further attract knowledge based industries, the property taxes for these establishments were lowered to those of residential levels, a drastic cut which has proved to be a major attraction for the knowledge creating and transforming industries. The Education City Pune is now poised to become the Knowledge City Pune - A Step towards the 21st Century - A step towards making Pune the Number 1 city.

According to the Software Technology Parks of India figures, a hundred new companies have come to Pune in the last six months. Software exports have increased from Rs 2400 crore to Rs 4500 crore until last December, and about 10,000 new jobs have been created.

Mr. Kalmadi has also been tirelessly promoting Pune as the preferred destination for Biotechnology (BT), a science that will dominate global industrial growth in this century. Fifty years ago Pune became the first Indian city to establish modern Biotechology industry (BT) producing antibiotics and today it is the largest manufacturer of vaccines in the country supplying vaccines for every fourth child in the world. Mr Kalmadi recognized the importance of BT, especially of its confluence with IT, to the economic growth and industrial R & D. It was under his leadership that the first joint IT/BT conference in India was held four years ago in Pune. The focus of the conference was to present to the world a ‘Pune Showcase’ as a hub for biotechnology industrial R & D. The second conference dealt with the projected and potential biotechnology market especially in pharmaceuticals and agriculture in India. Special attention was paid to the role of BT in rural development The theme of the forthcoming conference, which is in the planning phase, is to highlight the strength of Pune to ensure ‘Maximum Return of Investment’ to the Bio Technology and Info Technology entrepreneurs.

PUNE FESTIVAL
Mr. Kalmadi is the Chairman of the Pune Festival Committee, which is a festival revolving around Culture, Dance, Music, Art and Sports. Mr. Kalmadi was inspired by the 'Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav' of Lokmanya Tilak who started the Ganeshotsav festival as a medium thru which he infused and inculcated the spirit of freedom in the minds of the people. Mr. Kalmadi initiated the Pune Festival in 1989 with Pt. Bhimsen Joshi as the President. Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak

The ten-day Pune Festival, whose 15th edition was celebrated in September 2003, is an annual cultural extravaganza, organised by the Dept. of Tourism, Govt. of India, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, Pune Festival Committee and the citizens of Pune, who all beseech Lord Ganpati to descend from His heavenly abode and preside over the festivities. In addition to putting the festival on the global tourist map, it has also inspired various other organizations to organize similar festivals in their own cities.

World-renowned Indian artists participate in this festival, which also provides a platform to traditional local artistes, and encourages youth talent in the field of dance, music and drama. The festival provides a stage for children and young adults to showcase their talent.

The Pune Festival is also perhaps the only major cultural programme, which has over the years attracted top dignitaries to inaugurate it. This includes former presidents Late Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma , Late Shri Krishna Kant, K.R. Narayanan, Congress (I) president Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Late Madhavrao Scindhia, Shivraj Patil, Ghulam Nabi Azad, K.P. Singh Deo, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Manohar Joshi, Gopinath Munde and Sudhakar Naik.

Under the aegis of Pune Festival Committee many allied events like the Pune International Film Festival and the Shaniwarwada Dance Festival take place.

Mr. Suresh Kalmadi is a Trustee of the Dr. Kalmadi Shamarao High School that was founded by his father, and today carries the spirit of service of his father into his own public life.

Mr. Kalmadi did his early schooling and college in Pune before joining the National Defense Academy. He later became an Air Force pilot and served in the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971. Mr. Kalmadi was greatly inspired by the Great Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who was, and is, his role model. He joined the Air Force only because of the inspiration he got from Chhatrapati Shivaji.

He is married to Shrimati Meera Kalmadi, and has two daughters and one son - Sonali, Payal, and Sumeer.

Shrimati Meera Kalmadi is more spirituality inclined and Mr. Kalmadi acknowledges that "she has always been my silent anchor.”

Mr. Kalmadi has a wide and varied circle of friends and associates, and they come from all walks of life - senior politicians, business men and women, artists, actors, performers, sports men and women.

Mr. Kalmadi has also developed an extensive network of contacts in Delhi and internationally which he never hesitates to call on for the benefit of Pune. Mr. Kalmadi has been a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament for the last 22 years, and would now like to enter the Lok Sabha so that he can do focused work for his constituency - Pune City.

Mr. Suresh Kalmadi was the Minister of State for Railways in 1995-1996 under Mr. Narasimha Rao.

During this short term he undertook several projects for the improvement of rail services, and also totally revamped the Pune Railway Station. Under his leadership:

• Computerized railway reservation centres in Pune city & district were introduced.
• The Pune Division was created to streamline railway traffic.
• Four new trains were started
  1. Ahmedabad - Pune Ahimsa Exp
  2. Howrah - Pune Azad Hind Exp
  3. Varanasi - Pune Gyan Ganga Exp
  4. Bombay - Pune Shatabdi
• Beautification and provision of basic amenities at all stations between Pune and Lonavala were done.
• Narrow gauge tracks were changed to broad gauge, and a lot of new bridges were constructed.
• Granted special privileges and 75% concessions to sports persons, including athletes and coaches, for travelling anywhere in India. Also granted free travel for all federation's office bearers.

For the future Mr. Kalmadi is proposing to introduce a high speed connection that will cover the distance to Mumbai in 2 hrs.

His heart is however in Pune. "I have represented the city of Pune in the Lok Sabha only once and that too for only one year. But now, I want to devote my entire time for Pune and transform this great city into the Number 1 city of the 21st century.

He has used his MP funds for the benefit of Pune in the following ways:

However, unlike a Lok Sabha MP who has to spend funds in the constituency which he/she represents, a Rajya Sabha member is required to issue grants even to other cities and States. A lot of the MP funds have been used in Pune itself, but Mr. Kalmadi has also supported development outside Pune. For example,

- Mr. Suresh Kalmadi

Mr. Suresh Kalmadi is a very successful businessman who has risen to the top during the last 30 years by his vision, sheer dynamism, and superb organization skills. He is a self-made man, and today his creations provide employment to over 2500 people. The birth and growth of the Sai Service Group took place because of Mr. Kalmadi's vision, dynamism, and his ability to put people in the proper places, including his brother and son who are very active participants of the Sai Service Group.

"I have no time or inclination for small events. Anything big and massive immediately calls for my attention. I have always been a natural organizer, so all these roles come easily to me. The pressure never reaches boiling point because I have delegated authority to competent persons. So starting new projects and sustaining them has never been an issue," Mr. Kalmadi has said.

Mr. Kalmadi started in April 1974 by acquiring an interest in Poona Coffee House which today is the leading restaurant located in the most prestigious area in the heart of the city.

In July 1974 he acquired a dealership of Hindustan Petroleum for all its products. Then in 1985 he took his big step, and under the banner of Sai Service Station Ltd. (incorporated on August 09, 1985) he took the dealership of Maruti Udyog Ltd. Next he added the dealership of Bajaj Auto Ltd. in 1986. He also brought to India via the Sai Service Group the Rent-a-Car scheme for the first time. Sai Service has now spread its wings to Mumbai, Kolhapur, Kochi, and Goa.

Sai Service has acquired the Number 1 position in Maruti dealership in the country (4 times including 2003), and continues to be the leading organization for Maruti Udyog Ltd. Sai Service has also acquired the Number 1 position in Bajaj dealerships in the country. The group has also taken to marketing Mahindra vehicles in Mumbai.

As a businessman himself, Mr. Kalmadi has been actively trying to get corporate support for sports and other cultural activities. He always encourages his fellow businessmen to sponsor and promote sports other than cricket. At the recent 1st Standard Chartered Mumbai International Marathon, the sponsors had pumped in USD 210,000 to make it the richest marathon in Asia. He says, "I want to see that 30 corporate houses back 30 different sports so that every sport gets proper recognition."

Mr. Suresh Kalmadi's sun sign is Taurus and was born on May 01 in Pune, Maharashtra. His education was from St. Vincent's High School, Pune, and Fergusson College, Pune.

In 1960 he joined the National Defense Academy (NDA) at Khadakvasla, Pune, and then in 1964 the Air Force Flying Colleges in Jodhpur and Allahabad. From 1965-1974 he was a pilot in the Indian Air Force, and during his service he participated in the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971.

In April 1974 Mr. Kalmadi acquired an interest in Poona Coffee House, and three months later in July 1974 he acquired a dealership of Hindustan Petroleum for all its products.

In 1977, Mr. Kalmadi became the President of the Youth Congress, Pune, and the very next year took over Presidentship of the Youth Congress, Maharashtra, a post he held from 1978 to 1980.

In 1980, as the President of the Maharashtra Athletics Association, Mr. Kalmadi undertook the selection trials for the Marathon team to represent the country at the Moscow Olympics. This soon led to the establishment of the Pune International Marathon.

In 1982 Mr. Kalmadi was nominated Member of Rajya Sabha, a position that he has continuously held for the last 22 years.

On August 09, 1985 he incorporated Sai Service Station Ltd., which is today his flagship company, and established a dealership of Maruti Udyog Ltd. By 1986 he had also added the dealership of Bajaj Auto Ltd. Today Sai Service Ltd. is the biggest dealership of Maruti Udyog Ltd in India.

Mr. Kalmadi took over as the Chairman of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation and in 1989 started the Pune Festival, which would soon become the Signature Festival associated with him. The Pune Festival celebrated its 15th edition in September 2003.