Leaders lobby for their kids as Bihar election approaches

BJP leaders are also not far behind in seeking fortunes for their sons in the upcoming political contest, and insiders claimed that there are many requests from the state unit of the party.

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Misa Bharti
Misa might contest from Raghopur seat, which was earlier held by her mother and former chief minister Rabri Devi.

It's all in the family! With the Bihar Assembly elections just round the corner, lobbying for the sons and daughters of various state leaders is at its peak. Whether it is the BJP, RJD, JD(U) or the newly formed Hindustan Awami Morcha (HAM) led by Mahadalit leader Jitan Ram Manjhi, several secondgeneration names are in the race to enter the poll fray.

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The list starts with Tej Pratap, who has blessings of his parents - both former chief ministers - Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi. His candidature has already been announced for the Mahua Assembly constituency.

Chetan Anand
An alumnus of Welham Boys School and the son of former parliamentarian Lovely Anand and strongman Anand Mohan Singh, Chetan Anand (right) has expressed desire to contest polls. Lovely Anand recently joined HAM led by Jitan Ram Manjhi.

While Lalu Prasad himself can't contest polls because of his conviction in the fodder scam case, sources said that he has already made it clear to the newly formed alliance (JD-U and RJD) that his two sons and one daughter will fight the upcoming elections.

The younger son Tejashwi Yadav, who was actively involved in campaigning for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, will most probably be given the Sonpur seat. The eldest among the Yadav siblings, Misa Bharti, is also not far behind in the race for a ticket. She might contest from the Raghopur seat which was earlier held by her mother and former chief minister Rabri Devi.

Tej Pratap
Tej Pratap: Lalu's eldest son has not been very active in politics, but his candidature may soon be announced. He can contest from the Mahua seat.

While Tej Pratap has not been very active in politics, younger son Tejashvi was actively involved in campaigning for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. He was also part of Delhi Daredevils team in the Indian Premiere League (IPL).

Fight for the eldest daughter Misa Bharti will be crucial as she had contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Patliputra and lost to RJD rebel Ram Kripal Yadav, who joined the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in 2014. In 2010, Rabri Devi had lost the Raghopur constituency. Another RJD leader Raghunath Jha's son Ajit Kumar Jha might also get a ticket from the Sheohar seat.

Vivek Thakur
Senior state BJP leader CP Thakur is trying to get a ticket for his son Vivek Thakur, former MLC, from the Digha Assembly seat.

BJP leaders are also not far behind in seeking fortunes for their sons in the upcoming political contest, and insiders claimed that there are many requests from the state unit of the party. Sources in the state BJP said that senior BJP leader from Bihar CP Thakur is trying for his son Vivek, a former MLC, from Digha Assembly seat.

BJP leader Maharaja Kamal Singh's grandson Shivang Vijay is also trying to get the ticket from the Dumraon seat. Saffron party's Sasaram MP Chhedi Paswan is lobbying for his son Ravi Paswan from Chenari. Former state minister Jagdanand Singh's son Sudhakar Singh is also vying for the Ramgarh seat.

Misa Bharti
Misa Bharti: The eldest among Lalu Prasad's children, Misa might contest from Raghopur seat, which was earlier held by her mother and former chief minister Rabri Devi.

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Besides, former minister Sitaram Singh is also trying for a BJP ticket for his son Rana Randhir Singh from the Madhuban seat in East Champaran. While the BJP has not declared the seat-sharing ratio among the NDA constituents, its allies have also come out with demands for their wards.

Jitan Ram Manjhi, who floated his own party HAM, is now part of the NDA camp. His son Santosh Manjhi, who was in the news for wrong reasons recently, has expressed his willingness to contest. Sources said that there will be no surprise if Manjhi asks for one more seat for his son-in-law.

Another claimant from HAM is the son of former parliamentarian Lovely Anand, who recently joined the party led by Manjhi. Chetan Anand has also expressed his desire to come into the fray. He is an alumnus of the famous Welham Boys School and also completed a course in communication design from Symbiosis Institute.

Ajit Kumar Jha
Ajit Kumar Jha: The son of former Union minister and RJD leader Raghunath Jha (above) is in the race to get a ticket from Sheohar.

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Meanwhile, NDA ally Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) said on Friday that the BJP must contest only 102 of the 243 seats in the Bihar Assembly and leave the rest to its three allies.

RLSP leader Upendra Kushwaha, the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, made the appeal in Patna, saying that in the last Assembly polls in 2010, the BJP contested 102 seats and the JD(U), then its ally, put up candidates in 141 constituencies.

Ravi Paswan
Ravi Paswan: Saffron party's Sasaram MP Chhedi Paswan is lobbying for his son Ravi from Chenari

He said the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) of Ram Vilas Paswan should be given 74 seats, adding that some seats can be given to the HAM too.