Pramod Mahajan’s son Rahul could carry his father’s legacy, to Parliament. Alternatively it could be his wife, Rekha.
NEW DELHI: Pramod Mahajan’s son Rahul could carry his father’s legacy, to Parliament. Alternatively it could be his wife, Rekha. The BJP leadership has decided in principle that the seat could be given to either of them. But the party has left the final decision to the Mahajan’s family.
Mahajan was a BJP member in Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra. Following his death, the seat in the Upper House has fallen vacant and the election is likely to be notified in next three months.
A top BJP leader told DNA that “we are inclined to give Pramodji’s seat to his son or his wife, or a third person. While officially a decision to this effect will be taken at the appropriate time, it is for Mahajan’s family that has to make the real call.”
Rahul is 31 and meets the Constitutional requirement, stated under Article 84 that a person should be 30 years of age, to be a member of the Rajya Sabha.
Rahul so far, did not appear to be politically inclined. But owing to the recent unfortunate circumstances he had to interact with senior leaders on a regular basis.
His entry to Parliament and into politics could infuse the much-needed young blood in the BJP ranks. Senior party leaders see a good prospect in him.
Though neither Rahul nor the BJP leaders including the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Leader of Opposition LK Advani or party president Rajnath Singh took up the issue with him or his mother as it was not the right time to discuss the subject.
The party’s decision has, however, been communicated to the family. It is also based on some cold political calculations.
Technically, the BJP does not have the required strength in the new Maharashtra assembly to send a party member to Rajya Sabha in case of a vacancy of a single seat.
But the kind of public attention and adulation Mahajan got in his death, makes the scenario different, particularly in Maharashtra. The BJP leaders conceded that they already had informal talks with the top brass of the NCP.
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and NCP chief Sharad Pawar is inclined to give his support if Rahul or Rekha Mahajan is nominated by the BJP for Rajya Sabha seat.
The party has assured support of Shiv Sena and few smaller parties.
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