Sons of BJP leaders to rise if lotus blooms in MP

Bhopal: It has been a long wait for sons of many BJP veterans in Madhya Pradesh to make debut in electoral politics.

The wait may be over for some of them in the November 28 assembly polls with BJP high command mulling to compromise the policy of discouraging dynasty politics in the party and focus merely on winning criteria in selection of candidates.

“Winning prospect is the sole criteria for selection of candidates by the party. Being a senior leader’s son or daughter neither enhances nor hinders chances of getting party ticket. Party will field those who can ensure blooming of lotus in their respective constituencies,” a BJP spokesman told this newspaper on Saturday.

Almost around a dozen wards of BJP heavyweights have been waiting to be launched in the coming assembly polls in the state.

Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s elder son Kartikeya, who has been nourishing his father’s assembly constituency of Budhni for the past one decade, is eyeing party ticket from seat this poll to enter the Assembly.

Junior Chouhan who was into floriculture business has of late been seen attending various party programmes in the state.

Sources said that the chief minister may shift to another constituency leaving Budhni seat for his son in this poll.

Similarly, BJP national vice-president Prabhat Jha, a Rajya Sabha member, is also keen to launch his son Tusmul in the November 28 assembly elections. He is looking for a safe constituency for his son to make debut in MP assembly.

Sources said Union minister Narendra Tomar’s son Devendra Singh Tomar could be a possible candidate from an assembly constituency in Morena or Gwalior district.

Similarly, BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, a sitting MLA, and Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan have been lobbying with party high command to launch their sons Akash and Mandhar respectively in this poll.

While Mandhar is eyeing Indore-3 seat, currently held by BJP’s Usha Thakur, Mr Vijayvargiya has expressed his desire to leave his Mhow seat for his son and shift to centre.

State rural panchayat minister Gopal Bhargav appeared keen to launch his son Abhishek in the November elections, while his ministerial colleague Narottam Mishra has been trying for a ticket for his son Sukarna, a doctor by profession from an Assembly constituency in Datia district.

State forest minister Gourishankar Shejbar’s son Mudit is in the race for Sanchi assembly seat in Raisen district, while Sagar MP Laxminarayan is lobbying hard for ticket for his son Sudhir from Banda seat in Sagar district.

Sources said state agriculture minister Gourishankar Bisen was also keen to field his daughter in his assembly constituency in Balaghat, in case party decided to drop him in this poll.