No Less Than Akhilesh,Rahul Says Home Minister’s Son Pankaj Singh
NEW DELHI : New son rising Pankaj Singh has 15 years of party work behind him, as much if not more political experience, he says, as Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi, young leaders from Uttar Pradesh now leading their parties after direct promotions to big posts early in their careers.
But Pankaj Singh, 40, the son of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, will only now make his electoral debut. He is the BJP candidate from Noida for next month’s UP elections, a decision that the party has had to defend – it has fielded several sons and daughters of senior leaders despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating firmly that family members of party men must not contest elections.
Pankaj Singh told to a TV channel that his candidacy does not violate the Prime Minister’s orders. “My dad and I don’t talk politics. I just sought his blessings,” he said, dismissing allegations of “dynasty politics.” There were reports of party cadres being upset in Noida as he replaces a sitting MLA. However, Pankaj said that he had “spoken to all” and they were supporting him.
“The kind of dynasty,” said Pankaj Singh, “where you go from school to party, that kind of dynasty won’t do.” The reference was to political rivals like UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party and Rahul Gandhi, Congress vice president, who belong to the first families of their parties, but Mr Singh refuses to offer anything more in the way of criticism.
“I don’t want to badmouth Akhilesh and Rahul – that isn’t my politics,” he said.Pankaj Singh had hoped to be fielded by the BJP for the 2014 national election, but the party did not select him then. Earlier today, senior BJP leader in charge of UP Om Mathur said Mr Singh has worked hard for the party for years and so is “200% eligible” to be a BJP candidate, and not because his father is the party’s tallest leader in the state.
Pankaj Singh claimed that he was offered a BJP ticket for the 2007 UP assembly elections, but he said no to party bosses since he felt he was not ready then. Mr Singh worked as party general secretary for two terms and was also in charge of the BJP’s UP youth wing.
