Bangalore, December 4: Karnataka, which will go to the polls in May next year, is set to witness 'son rise' of a different kind. A record number of children of top political leaders are expected to test their luck in the 2013 assembly elections.
Former Chief Ministers H.D. Kumaraswamy and N.Dharam Singh, Union Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, former Union Minister C.K. Jaffer Sharief, and former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah are among the leaders who are keen to field their children or grandchildren in the elections.
'Safe constituencies'
These leaders have already begun lobbying for tickets for their kin and have selected "safe constituencies" to ensure that their entry into politics takes place without much hiccups.
The "young candidates" are being seen at important political forums and meetings of their respective parties.
Mandya district.
Nikhil, whose mother Anitha is also a party MLA, is expected to contest from Hassan city.
Political legacy
Ajay Singh, son of Congress leader and former CM Dharam Singh, has been assigned Bidar district, while Union minister for social welfare Mallikarjun Kharge reportedly wants his son Priyank to contest from a constituency in Gulbarga district - both in north Karnataka.
These two Congress stalwarts are keen to continue their political legacy.
The Congress has already enrolled Ajay and Priyank as party members, and the two have been active in party activities.
Siddaramaiah, who shifted from the JD(S) to the Congress a few years ago, declared last week that his son Rakesh would be contesting the poll from a constituency in Mysore.
Incidentally, the father son duo were not on talking terms for a few years due to personal reasons, but now all seems well between them.
changing dynamics of Indian politics.
Every party leader and stalwart wants to have his/ her kin to contest elections... It will not be a surprise if many of them win," pointed out political historian Dr A. Veerappa.
Several other leaders are also fielding their children in the next year's elections.
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