Lok Sabha elections 2019: Parivaarwad in BJP-Congress may claim 20% Lok Sabha tickets

BHOPAL: Parivaarwad ties BJP and Congress . Dynasty politics will dominate in at least 20% of the 29 LS seats of Madhya Pradesh , with stalwarts from both parties demanding tickets for family members.

After Leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargav, former CM Babulal Gaur supported parivaarwad on Saturday. “Why shouldn’t a politician’s son or daughter get a ticket if they are capable enough?” the BJP veteran told TOI on Saturday, adding: “In Lalu Yadav’s family, everyone is into politics.”

On Friday, at a party meet to discuss poll preparations, Bhargava had demanded the Sagar LS ticket for his son, Abhishek. “Will the son of a politician become a beggar?” he had said.

It’s not just BJP, Congress too doesn’t see anything wrong in parivaarwad. “At the end, you need a winning candidate. Local support is needed for wining a constituency. If the family member of a leader can win, what is the problem?” wondered PCC media committee chairperson Shobha Oza, adding: “But I am not aware who is getting the ticket.”

Going by sources from both parties, blood lines may dictate tickets in at least five to six seats.

The list of those seeking tickets for family members include A-listers in the state BJP — including former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan , whose wife Sadhna Singh is said to be keen to contest from Vidisha Lok Sabha seat. Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar has pitched in for his elder son Devendra, and national vice-president Prabhat Jha is trying to indict son Tushmul in active politics. Former minister Narottam Mishra, who is in charge of Uttar Pradesh, is trying for his son Sukarn, who is a member of BJP youth wing, say sources. Former state finance minister Jayant Malaiya's son Siddharth has already entered active politics from Sagar region. Former minister and MLA from Balaghat, Gaurishankar Bisen is also demanding ticket for his daughter Mausam since 2014 polls.

The list is equally long in Congress. It starts with CM Kamal Nath’s son, Nakul, who could be fielded from Chhindwara . Home minister Bala Bachchan’s wife Praveena Bala Bachchan may contest from Khargone, and Nitest Silawat, son of health minister Tulsi Silawat, may be fielded from Ujjain. Siddharth, the son of former MP Sundarlal Tiwari, who passed away on Monday, may be fielded from Rewa. There is intense speculation that Priyadarshini Raje, wife of AICC general secretary Jyotiraditya Scindia, could replace her husband as Congress candidate from Guna-Shivpuri seat, but she denied this in an interview with TOI.