UP Elections 2017: PM Modi's no family man but BJP isn't averse to dynasty politics

PM Modi has often flaunted his detachment from material riches, citing that he's a fakir who will walk away whenever . And the core of his detachment from material possessions, is the notion that he doesn't need to earn money to support his family. He has also stated more than once, that he is not a family man, that he works for the people of India, a statement backed up by deeds since all his siblings live humdrum lives far removed from the centres of power.

It's a stick he often uses to beat his opponents, but as the UP goes to polls it's pertinent to note that the BJP isn't averse to handing out tickets to family members of prominent politicians. As senior BJP leader Arun Singh and Uttar Pradesh State President Keshav Prasad Maurya announced the list of 155 BJP candidates, the presence of family members of prominent politicians including Home Minister Rajnath Singh's son Pankaj Singh loomed large over proceedings. 

This goes against the BJP's refrain, as Arun Jaitley once claimed, “The politics of dynasty stands no chance because Modi represents merit  which is the buzzword in today’s world and politics." .

 Not just in Uttar Pradesh, but in Uttarakhand too several famous politicians and their kin have been given tickets, which includes Yashpal Arya and his son Sanjeev, Vijay Bahuguna’s son Saurabh, BC Khanduri’s daughter Ritu, Munna Singh Chauhan's wife Madhu and Narayan Singh Rana, who is related to Rajnath Singh.

BJP has constantly asked voters to stay away from baap-bete and baap-beti ki sarkaar, but their allies in Maharashtra (Shiv Sena) and Kashmir (PDP) are dynastic parties to the core.  UP is an important state for the BJP since it had managed to secure  71 of 80 seats in UP during Lok Sabha elections, but will they manage to put a saffron flag over the state during the assembly elections with the same approach that SP has?

Here’s a list of a few candidates who come from well-known political families:

Mriganaka Singh will be contesting from Kairana constituency (daughter of Hukum Singh) 

BJP leader Anil Chauhan quit the party last week protesting against Mriganaka's candidature. Mriganka doesn't have any political experience, while Hukum Singh was accused of consolidating Hindu votes last year to benefit his daughter's debut in 2017.

Hukum Singh is an Lok Sabha MP from Kairana. He was a part of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly for seven terms, and has also served as Cabinet Minister in Uttar Pradesh government under both BJP and Congress regime.

Pankaj Singh will be contesting from Noida (son of Rajnath Singh)

Pankaj Singh, the eldest son of Home minister Rajnath Singh, will be making his debut in Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. He wanted to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, but was not fielded by BJP,  and had been denied a ticket twice. He is the General Secretary-BJP, Uttar Pradesh and has been active in politics since 2002.

Kunwar Sushant Singh has been given a ticket from Barhapur (son of Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar Singh)

Belonging to a royal family, Sushant Singh's father Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar Singh and grandfather Raja Rampal Singh have also been MLAs from Thakurdwara. Sarvesh Singh is currently the sitting BJP MP of Moradabad, while Rampal Singh was once a Congress MP from Amroha.

Ashutosh Tandon Gopal to contest from Lucknow East (son of Lalji Tandon) 

Ashutosh Tandon Gopal is the current MP from Lucknow East, and has been given the ticket from the same seat. He was elected to the constituency in 2014 by-elections. When Ashutosh was fielded from Lucknow seat during the last elections, Congress and Samajwadi Party had cried 'dynasty politics'.

His father, Lalji Tandon has been a member of UP Legislative Council for two terms and a member of UP Legislative Assembly for three terms. He has also served as Urban Development minister under Mayawati's regime. He was elected to 15th Lok Sabha from Lucknow, and was is considered a protege of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Prateek Bhushan is the BJP candidate from Gonda (son of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh)

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's son Prateek Bhushan will be contesting UP elections 2017 from Gonda. Brij has been a two time Lok Sabha MP from Gonda constituency, and is currently representing Kaiserganj in Lok Sabha. He was also a member of Samajwadi Party for a political term, but rejoined BJP before 16th Lok Sabha elections.

Utkarsh Maurya will be representing BJP from Unchahar (son of Swami Prasad Maurya)

Swami Prasad Maurya had managed to get a ticket for Utkarsh Maurya from BSP even in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls 2012, but he lost to Manoj Kumar Pandey then.  Swami Prasad Maurya has crossed over to BJP just six  months ago, he is currently the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of UP. He has served four terms as a member of Legislative Assembly and has also been a minister in UP government. He currently represents Padrauna constituency in the Assembly.