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ShareMumbai: Two myths are about to change. The first is that the average politician is an elderly person clad in kurta-pyjama. The second is the belief that the Nehru-Gandhi family alone promotes dynastic rule in politics. For the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the state is flooded with youngsters seeking to test their political mettle in the electoral field. And most of them have some political connection - father, brother, etc - promoting their case.
The star attraction in Maharashtra is undoubtedly Supriya Sule, daughter of Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar. This 39-year-old Rajya Sabha member is going to test her public acceptance by contesting from Baramati, a seat held for years by her father.
"She will work to get out of her father's shadow. Instead of saheb (Pawar), the people of Baramati will have their tai (elder sister)," said a senior NCP leader.
Computer engineer Vishwajeet Kadam, 28, is a force to reckon with for the Sangli seat. The son of revenue minister Patangrao Kadam has carved out his own identity as an academician, industrialist and social activist. However, it is not yet certain he will be the Congress' nominee for the seat.
NCP sources say the Congress decision to showcase Rahul Gandhi as an emerging leader was what made other parties also push for younger politicians, given that 35% of Indians constitute what in popular parlance is called GenNext. Thus, deputy chief minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal is keen to introduce his nephew Sameer to parliament from Nashik.
Supriya Sule's close friend and daughter of union power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Pranati, is likely to be fielded from Sholapur as a Congress candidate. This young law graduate has worked in the constituency, considered her father's bastion, for some time now.
Charusheela Tokas, daughter of senior Congress leader Prabha Rau is vying for a ticket from Wardha constituency.
Among the Gen Next parliamentarians are Milind Deora from Mumbai South and Priya Dutt from Mumbai North West. Both these constituencies were held by their respective fathers earlier, and both are expecting renominations, though it Dutt is seeking a different constituency.
The BJP youth wing is rooting Poonam Rao, daughter of late Pramod Mahajan, to be nominated for an Lok Sabha seat from either Mumbai or Thane. Poonam, who has launched an election drive, says, "Youngsters in the age of 18-35 will have a decisive role in democratic process. They cannot be ignored."
The Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg seat in the Konkan will also have a new face in the form of Nilesh Rane, son of state industry minister Narayan Rane (Congress).
Shiv Sena has decided to field the young engineer-cum-business management candidate Anand Paranjpe from Thane.
The renomination of member of Parliament Bhawna Gawli as the Sena candidate from Washim-Yavatmal is almost a certainty.
