Delhi polls: After attacking Congress, BJP toys with dynasty

NEW DELHI: The party that has always attacked Congress for dynastic politics seems to be going down the same path, with the sons of four senior BJP leaders finding mention in the list of candidates for the assembly polls, on Wednesday.
Soon after the announcement, the issue engrossed the party workers, who expressed their anguish at the development.“It is so unfortunate that while BJP’s prime ministerial candidate is busy attacking Congress’ shehzada (prince), the Delhi BJP is doing all it can to accommodate the sons of leaders,” said a BJP worker.
The most prominent among the four is Ajay Malhotra, son of veteran leader V K Malhotra. The debutant is contesting from Greater Kailash. Ajay’s seat was coveted by former Saket MLA Vijay Jolly, who felt he had a greater claim over it.
People close to Ajay say he has been more active in the constituency with his father occupied in state-level politics. The second name in the list is Rajiv Babbar, son of O P Babbar, four-time sitting MLA from Tilak Nagar. Sources say Rajiv has been involved in local issues owing to his father’s age.
Pravesh Verma, son of former BJP chief minister Sahib Singh Verma, is another such contender, from Mehrauli. Verma had missed out on ticket in 2008 and 2009 first in the assembly polls and then in Lok Sabha. Even this time Verma was more keen on contesting from Matiala instead of Mehrauli.
The fourth son to bag a ticket is Gaganshrilal Pradhan, son of Shrilal Pradhan an office bearer in BJP, from south Delhi. Pradhan, however, had contested on a BSP ticket in 2008 after not being chosen by BJP. Gagan is a member of the party’s SC/ST morcha in south Delhi.