The sons of politicos got tickets to contest the Assembly elections in the various constituencies of the state, thanks to their fathers.
Sons of Congress, Akali Dal leaders make a debut in various constituencies
CHANDIGARH: Kakajis, are having a field day in Punjab. These sons of politicians have got tickets to contest the ensuing Assembly elections in the in various constituencies of the state, thanks to the affluence of their fathers.
More than a dozen such rookies, from both the Congress and Akali Dal, have bagged poll tickets, and are debuting in the election arena, trying to cash in on the popularity of their fathers.
In some cases, both father and son are slugging it out to expand their family fiefdom, like former Akali Dal finance minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh who is contesting the Banur Assembly seat, while his son Jasjit Singh has made his debut as a candidate from the adjoining Kharar constituency.
Similarly, as Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann is contesting from the Dhanaula seat, he has fielded his son Emman Singh Mann from the Sirhind constituency. Both, Jasjit and Emman, were otherwise political greenhorns, but have found a ready platform for the Assembly elections courtesy their fathers.
Gaganjit Singh Barnala, son of Tamil Nadu governor Surjit Singh Barnala, Parminder Singh Dhindsa, son of former union minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, and Amarpal Singh Bonney, son of Ratan Singh Ajnala, an Akali MP, are the other prominent Akali candidates seeking to woo the voters in the name of their fathers. And fathers are indeed taking good care of their siblings by canvassing intensely for them.
Congress' Rakesh Sharma, son of former governor Hansraj Sharma, is fighting from the Banur seat, whereas Aman Arora, son of HR Arora, former Congress minister, is contesting from the Sunam seat. Both, Rakesh and Aman, however, have been given the party ticket in place of their late fathers. But the Congress has also kept alive the tradition of nursing the second generation of prominent leaders.
For instance Rajnish Kumar has been fielded from his father's constituency, Mukerian. His father Kewal Krishan, has been Speaker in the outgoing Vidhan Sabha.
Similarly, Kanwarjit Singh Brar, son of Harcharan Singh Brar, is pitched in the Muktsar constituency that his father represented at one time. Harcharan Brar incidently has been former Governor of Haryana and former chief minister of Punjab.
To cap them all is Sukhbir Singh Badal, son of Akali Dal chief Parkash Singh Badal, who represents the Faridkot constituency in Lok Sabha, but has been practically spearheading the Akali Dal election campaign single-handedly. There have been speculations that Sukhbir might be the next CM in due course.
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