New Delhi, Jan 18 (India Today) : It seems politics is a family enterprise and it's not just in the Congress party. Dynasties are blooming across the political spectrum, even in the Bharatiya Janata Party which has repeatedly attacked dynastic politics in the past. The imminent Delhi Assembly elections will see political dynasties in the saffron outfit hogging the limelight, with successors and relatives of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders hoping to contest the polls slated for February 7. A Mail Today analysis of the BJP probables for Delhi polls indicates that the family surname and lineage could determine who all will be contesting on the party's tickets from at least 11 constituencies.

One of the major promises Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made after coming to power last year was putting nepotism or dynastic politics to end. However, the developments within his own party present a contrast as far as Assembly elections in Delhi are concerned. Nearly a dozen senior BJP leaders and their relatives are seeking party ticket for the Assembly elections in Delhi

With the announcement of candidates likely on Monday, BJP leaders are making desperate bids to ensure a ticket for their kin. While leaders like Harish Khurana and former mayor Azad Singh are citing the political legacy of former chief ministers Madan Lal Khurana and Sahib Singh Verma, others like Vijay Goel, Ramesh Bidhuri and Manoj Tiwari are making their bids to secure a ticket for their relatives.

The names

Harish Khurana, the son of former CM Madan Lal Khurana is vying for the Hari Nagar seat; while Azad Singh, brother of another former CM Sahib Singh Verma, is keen on contesting the elections from Mundka. Azad Singh had lost the elections from this seat in December 2013.

Similarly, South Delhi MP and Delhi BJP general secretary Ramesh Bidhuri is lobbying for his nephew Vikram Bidhuri from Tughlakabad constituency, a seat which he represented thrice in the Delhi Assembly before being elected to the Lok Sabha in 2014.

Another BJP veteran Vijay Kumar Malhotra may ensure a party ticket to his son Ajay Malhotra, who lost the Assembly elections from Greater Kailash in 2013. Sources said the BJP may field him from the same seat as Sharmishtha Mukherjee, the daughter of President Pranab Mukherjee. Sources said former Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel was also lobbying for his wife Preeti Goel from Model Town Assembly constituency. Goel's father Charti Lal Goel had represented Model Town segment in Delhi Assembly from 1993 to1998.

As a number of Delhi BJP leaders fear being denied the Assembly ticket in the wake of age factor, they are either seeking a ticket for their sons or nephews. The prominent names include five-time MLA Jagdish Mukhi and senior leaders O.P. Babbar and Jai Bhagwan Aggarwal. Mukhi, the seniormost BJP legislator, may ensure a ticket for his son Atul Mukhi in case he is denied a ticket from Janakpuri seat. Mail Today had earlier reported that BJP may prefer young leaders over septuagenarians.

Lobbying

The other names include threetime MLA Jai Bhagwan Aggarwal from Rohini constituency who is seeking the party's ticket for his son Surendra Aggarwal, a real estate dealer. Jai Bhagwan had lost the elections in 2013 and may not be given another chance. O.P. Babbar, who had vacated the Tilak Nagar seat for his son Rajiv Babbar in 2013, is lobbying for him this time again. Rajiv had also lost the polls to the Aam Aadmi Party.

Likewise, North East Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari is trying to secure a ticket for his nephew Vinay Tripathi from the Burari Assembly seat. Since the constituency has a large number of Poorvanchali voters, Tiwari wants a ticket for his nephew who is a South Delhibased businessman. Another strong contender from this seat is Delhi BJP spokesperson Poonam Azad who is the wife of BJP MP Kirti Azad. Poonam is eyeing to contest the elections from Burari or Vikaspuri, both Poorvanchali-dominated seats. Sources said four-time MLA H.S. Balli, who rejoined BJP recently, was seeking party's ticket for his son or wife as he himself may not contest the Assembly polls this time.

It is pertinent to mention that BJP in 2013 elections had given tickets to three such candidates, namely Pravesh Verma, Azad Singh and Rajiv Babbar. However, only Pravesh, son of Sahib Singh Verma, won the election from Mehrauli while the other two lost the elections.

Of credibility

Observers point out that the trend of nominating relatives of the party leaders may not augur well for BJP as it will not allow capable grassroots leaders to flourish. If BJP wants to stay away from the ruinous path of dynastic politics-something which plagues the Congress party and certain regional outfits -then it has to project leaders who are credible in their own right, observers added. Capacity to implement Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development agenda for the city should be the main criterion while selecting candidates if BJP wants to counter the Aam Aadmi Party and snatch a convincing victory in the Capital, observers said.