Beti No 1 for Kripashankar

Sources claim Congress heavyweight wants daughter to contest Assembly polls from Kalina, as he doesn't want to risk losing

Sources claim Congress heavyweight wants daughter to contest Assembly polls from Kalina, as he doesn't want to risk losing

As the race for Assembly election tickets hots up, the political rumour mill has dropped a bombshell.

According to Congress sources, party heavyweight and city Congress president Kripashankar Singh may not contest the Assembly elections, as he doesn't want to risk losing.

Wanting to play it safe, he may prop up his daughter, Sunita, to contest from Kalina, while seeking a Rajya Sabha nomination for himself, added sources.

All in the family: Kripashankar Singh with daughter Sunita.

No experience

Sunita is married to a businessman and resides in Powai. She has a 12-year-old son and has never been visible in the political front.

This decision comes in the wake of NCP leader Nawab Malik's alleged threat to pit his son from Kalina, if he is not given a ticket. NCP sources claim Malik plans to get a Third Front ticket for his son Farraj (27) in that case.

Rival's chances

Farraj has a high chance of winning, as the Third Front garners votes from the vote banks of 16 parties, including all the RPI factions and SP.

In addition, the Kalina constituency has a high number of Muslim voters. This, explain sources, is why Singh wants to field his daughter, a younger candidate.

Singh, however, denied the rumours. "No one from my family will contest the election," he said.

But a fellow Congress man revealed, "Yes, Sunita's candidature is being considered, but nothing has been confirmed yet."

Dynastic Rule

Names of relatives of other political bigwigs are also making the rounds...

> Congress's Vilasrao Deshmukh's son Amit's name is being discussed for the Latur seat
> Congress's Sushil Kumar Shinde wants a ticket for her daughter Praniti from Solapur
> NCP MP Sanjay Patil wants the Vikhroli seat for his mother Manorama
> Senior Shiv Sena leader Gajanan Kirtikar wants the Dindoshi seat for his son Amol
> Deputy CM Chhagan Bhujbal wants a seat for son Pankaj
> BJP's Kirit Somaiya wants the Mulund seat for his wife Medha