ULB polls: Close relatives vie for BJP tickets

Prayagraj: With 37 and 780 aspirants having submitted their resume before the district Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership to contest the urban civic body polls for the post of mayor and corporators respectively, there are at least eight cases where close relatives are seeking tickets from the same ward.
All aspirants, who have submitted their resume, including name, address, e-mail id, educational and professional qualifications, trade, are also mentioning about their current post (if any in the party), experiences and responsibilities being attended or done by them within the party. For instance, sitting corporator Ruchi Gupta and her husband Neeraj Gupta (ex-corporator)– both have submitted their applications before party leadership to contest polls from ward 88 (Mutthiganj) for corporator post.
The couple describe themselves as loyal party workers.
Neeraj told TOI: “Each and every party worker has right to submit his or her candidature before party leadership and as, we are loyal party workers, we would always be working in the interest of party whom so ever is declared candidate.”
He added that “Notwithstanding who will get party ticket, we all are currently going door-to-door seeking votes and to ensure that party triumphs in all 100 wards of the Prayagraj municipal corporation.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by Ruchi claiming that they are all working in the interest of the party.
BJP spokesman Rajesh Kesarwani said: “The number of applications is increasing day by day as more aspirants are showing interest to contest urban civic body polls on BJP ticket.”
“Applications have been received from all 100 wards that also include close relatives seeking party tickets from the same ward.” Wards like Rajapur, Katra, Mutthiganj, Sulemsarai are a few where close relatives are making efforts to get BJP ticket, he said.
Even though dates for urban local bodies (ULB) elections in Uttar Pradesh are yet to be announced, aspirants have already launched their ‘voter-connect exercise’ in their respective wards. These ticket-seekers have opted both online and offline modes to garner support. Door-to-door campaigns and public gatherings like birthday parties, marriage ceremonies and religious events (akhand paths) are currently hot spots for these aspirants to seek public support.
Moreover, ticket seekers are leaving no stone unturned to install banners and posters on electric poles. Aspirants are also taking the social media route. They have made catchy hashtags to attract people assuring cent percent solution to their grievances. They have also renamed their social media handles as probable candidates and uploaded photos with senior party leaders to impress voters.