Mumbai: Refuting charges of nepotism,
senior Congress leader and Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh
on Sunday said it was necessary to put up young candidates in the
elections considering the "changing voters` profile".
Deshmukh, whose son Amit has been given Congress ticket
from Latur for the October 13 assembly elections, took pains
to stress that very few Congress candidates have "family
connection".
Addressing a press conference here, Deshmukh said kin of
Congress leaders did not get tickets on the strength of their
family background, but because of their "work".
Apart from Amit Deshmukh, Union Power Minister
Sushilkumar Shinde`s daughter Pranati, and President Pratibha
Patil`s son Raosaheb Shekhawat have got tickets this time.
"Also changing voters` profile (in terms of age) has
to be considered, and youth have to be given more
representation," he said when asked about prominent
politicians` children getting an easy entry into politics.
"Being someone`s relation can not be a disqualification,"
Deshmukh said.
Specifically on Amit`s candidature from Latur, he said,
"There was a demand from workers there...and you will know
after the results if the decision was right."
On the defection of Sena leader Sada Sarwankar, who is
now Congress`s candidate from Mahim (Mumbai), Deshmukh
admitted that this had annoyed some local Congressmen, but
maintained that "some times there are political compulsions".
"Such strategies are necessary in politics...Narayan Rane
is a past master of such games," Deshmukh said.
Rane, a former Sena leader who joined Congress some years
ago, was instrumental in Sarwankar`s defection.
Bureau Report
