Dynasty politics is on a grand display in Bihar where leaders from virtually every political party are trying their best to field their kin and kith in the Assembly elections.
Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Yadav has already announced that his two sons, Tej Pratap and Tejashwi, will contest from Mahuva in Vaishali and Obra in Aurangabad districts, respectively. The two constituencies with over 70,000 Yadav voters are considered safe for Lalu’s sons.
Lalu had earlier introduced his daughter Misa into politics. She unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha elections from Pataliputra last year.
Former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who heads the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), declared on Tuesday that his two sons would contest the Assembly polls. His elder son Santosh, who has been made the national secretary general of HAM, will contest from his father’s constituency, Makdumpur.
Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) president Ram Vilas Paswan last week submitted the list of his party nominees to BJP president Amit Shah. The list included the names of Paswan’s two sons-in-law, Anil Kumar Sadhu and Mrinal Kumar as candidates from Masaurhi in Patna district and Rajgir in Nalanda district, respectively.
Prince Paswan, who is the son of Ram Vilas Paswan’ younger brother, Samastipur MP Ramchandra Paswan, will contest from Khagaria. Pashupati Kumar Paras, the youngest brother of Ram Vilas Paswan and state LJP president, will contest from both Alauli and Rajapakar seats.
State Janata Dal United president, Bashistha Narain Singh has proposed his son’s name from one of the Assembly seats in Ara, whereas BJP MP from Maharajganj, Janardan Singh Sigriwal is seeking a ticket for his son from Chhapra.
Senior BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Chaubey is also lobbying to get his son a BJP ticket from Bhagalpur, which was represented by Chaubey until he won the Lok Sabha elections in 2014.
Another BJP leader, Lalmuni Chaubey has suggested his son Shishir be made the party candidate from Buxar, while BJP MP Chhedi Paswan is pressurising the state leaders to nominate his son as candidate from Chainpur constituency.
The HAM is not far behind. The names of the two sons of former minister Narendra Singh and the son of another former minister, Brishen Patel have come up in the list of candidates.
Nitish Mishra, son of former Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra will also contest the elections as HAM nominee from the Jhanjharpur seat.
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