Lucknow, Jan 23 (IT) : Pankaj Singh, son of party veteran and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, has been declared as BJP's candidate from Noida. The decision has also brought to the fore the dynastic politics which has engulfed the Uttar Pradesh (UP) elections.

Pankaj (40), who is making his electoral debut, currently holds the post of the party's general secretary for UP and has been in-charge of BJP's youth conventions in the state.
Soon after the announcement Singh spoke to the media at his father's residence at Akbar Road in the capital.

"I have been in BJP for three decades. It is the party which has taken a call and selected me to run for Assembly elections from Noida," said Pankaj.

Speaking in a manner similar to his father he said, "I cannot comment on allegations, but I can say that BJP has entrusted me with a responsibility and I will work hard towards achieving results."

In the past, Pankaj was denied ticket two times in previous elections. However, CEC decided to allow him to contest from Noida.

Rajnath Singh had contested the 2009 Lok Sabha elections from Ghaziabad which also falls under Delhi NCR. After his name was announced, Pankaj said that he will hit the ground soon in order to cover the vast expanse of rural and urban areas of Noida to canvass voters.

OTHER MAJOR PLAYERS

Other important names that were included in the second list of candidates from BJP were Sidharth Nath Singh and Rita Bahuguna Joshi. Singh said "the party looked at the candidates' ability to win and not just their profile and popularity."

When asked whether he would like to see his father as CM face of the party he chose to be diplomatic by saying that it was the party's call. He said that not just his father, there were many others who are probable for CM candidacy.

Ahead of the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party on January 22, released a second list of candidates for 155 seats in the state.