For BJP, parivar comes first

Taking cue from their party colleagues in Madhya Pradesh, several senior BJP leaders of Chhattisgarh have managed to get tickets for their k...

Taking cue from their party colleagues in Madhya Pradesh, several senior BJP leaders of Chhattisgarh have managed to get tickets for their kith and kin. Since the party is yet to announce its nominees for 18 of the 90 constituencies, some other leaders are still on the wait.

Ranvijay Singh, a nephew of the party8217;s chief ministerial candidate Dilip Singh Judeo, has been nominated from Raigarh constituency. In case Judeo, presently a Union Minister of State, is installed as the Chief Minister, Ranvijay would apparently quit the seat and make way for his uncle.

Chhattisgarh BJP president Raman Singh has secured party nomination for his brother-in-law Sidharth Singh from the Khairagarh constituency.

Sources disclosed the state party chief, who is a Lok Sabha member from Rajnandgaon, is keen on contesting for the Assembly from Kavardha.

The high command, however, is not receptive to the idea for it would send a clear signal across that he is the chief ministerial candidate. As a matter of strategy, it has not declared even Judeo as the prospective chief minister. He is being projected only as a key campaigner.

Alternatively, Raman Singh has mooted the candidature of his wife from Kavardha. The high command has kept the decision in abeyance.

Tara Chand Sahu, member of the Lok Sabha from Durg, has got a ticket for his son, Deepak, from the Saja constituency.

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Two sons of Bastar MP Bali Ram Kashyap are in the race for tickets 8212; one from Bhanpuri and the other from Jagdalpur. The party high command, according to sources, is prepared to give a ticket to the elder, whereas Kashyap is in favour of the younger one. Like other party MPs, Kashyap8217;s choice is likely to prevail.

Union Minister of State Ramesh Bais is trying for the allotment of a ticket for his brother Shyam from the Mandir Hasod constituency. The sole factor coming in his way is the string of defeats he has suffered in successive Assembly elections. While the high command makes up its mind, the seat has been kept vacant for now.

Former party president Lakhi Ram Agrawal is better off than the rest, having established his son, Amar, earlier. Agrawal junior, a sitting MLA, has been re-nominated from the Bilaspur constituency.