In politics, where people of the country are increasingly asking about nepotism, PM Modi’s niece, Sonal Modi, was denied a BJP ticket to contest in the upcoming civil polls in Gujarat.
Narendra Modi’s niece Sonal Modi was earlier denied a ticket by the BJP to contest the municipal elections from Bodakdev ward in Ahmedabad. Her name did not feature in the list of candidates released by the BJP unit in Gujarat. Sonal Modi, a homemaker by occupation, said that she did not want to contest as PM Modi’s niece but as an ordinary candidate. She emphasised that she will remain a dedicated party worker, irrespective of the BJP’s decision to reject her candidature.
On February 1, the BJP unit of Gujarat had announced that no tickets will be given to family members of any party leader. At the same time, BJP workers who are 60 years old and above or have served three times have also been denied tickets for CR Paatil, BJP Gujarat Chief, informed that the same rules applied to PM Modi’s niece as well.
While speaking about the development, PM Modi’s brother Prahlad Modi remarked, “This is not a case of nepotism. My family never used Narendra Modi’s name for our benefit. We all earn our own bread and butter.” He further added, “Even I run a ration shop. I have not visited Narendra Modi’s bungalow after he became the PM, let alone my children.” Pralhad Modi is the elder brother of PM Modi and Gujarat Fair Price Shops Association’s President.
The polls for 6 municipal corporations in Gujarat, namely, Surat, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot, Jamnagar and Bhavnagar will be held on February 21. A list of 576 candidates was released by the State unit of the BJP. The voting for 81 municipalities, 231 taluka panchayats, 31 district panchayats will take place on February 28 this year.