Political dynasts in Delhi’s poll fray include sons of ex-CMs, ex-MLAs, ex-MPs and late PM Shastri’s grandson
The BJP’s gamble to field sons of two former Delhi chief ministers paid off as both of them – Harish Khurana (Moti Nagar), Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma (New Delhi) are leading from their seats in the Delhi polls. However, Sheila Dikshit’s son and Congress scion Sandeep Dikshit is facing a poll loss as are several other dynasts fielded by Congress. While the BJP is currently leading in 48 seats, followed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 22 seats, The Hindu looks at how dynasty have performed in the Delhi Assembly elections.
BJP dynasts win big
With counting underway, BJP’s Parvesh Singh Verma – son of ex-CM Sahib Singh Verma, is set to defeat AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal and late Congress CM Sheila Dikshit’s son Sandeep Dikshit as he leads by 4099 votes. Similarly, Harish Khurana, son of ex-CM Madan Lal Khurana won Moti Nagar by 11,657 votes.
AAP too has fielded six such political dynasts – five ex-MLAs’ sons and one ex-MLA’s wife. Of these, Mr. Aaley Iqbal, who contested from his father’s seat Matia Mahal is leading by 42,724 votes and Mr. Zubair Ahmad, who contested from his father’s seat Seelampur, is leading by 41,171 votes. However, ex-Krishna Nagar MLA SK Bagga’s son Vikas, is trailing from the same seat by 22,809 votes and ex-MLA Naresh Balyan’s wife Pooja Balyan has lost the race for Uttam Nagar to BJP’s Pawan Sharma. Mr. Balyan was recently arrested for his alleged links to gangster Kapil Sangwan.
Congress scions lose
Congress which has fielded atleast eight candidates who are kin of former MPs and MLAs is staring at its third consecutive washout, failing to win a single seat. Apart from Mr. Dikshit, grandson of late PM Lal Bahadur Shastri is staring at defeat from Dwarka as he trails by 60,241 votes behind BJP’s Parduymn Singh Rajput. Former MP JP Agarwal’s son, Mudit has lost his race for Chandni Chowk to AAP’s incumbent MLA Prahlad Singh Sawhney’s son – Purandeep by 29,928 votes.
Other Congress dynasts who have been defeated include – former MLA Mangat Ram Singhal’s son Shivank from Adarsh Nagar by 40,404 votes, former MLA Ali Hassan Mehndi’s son – Ali Mehndi – from Mustafabad by 73,452 votes, late MLA Tajdar Babar’s son Farhad Suri from Jangpura by 31,509 votes. Mr. Suri was trumped by ex-Congress MLA who switched to BJP – Tarvinder Singh Marwah. AAP’s second-in-command Manish Sisodia who was also in the poll fray in Jangpura has conceded the race officially.
Published – February 08, 2025 02:58 pm IST