Gujarat BJP Minister Questions Party’s Stand on ‘Dynasty Politics’

Parshottam Solanki said the BJP will have to support him if they want his support.

BJP’s Fisheries Minister from Gujarat.

(Photo: Youtube Screengrab/The Quint)

Debates about ‘dynasty politics’ in India have surfaced again in the wake of Rahul Gandhi’s coronation as Congress president.

In September, Arun Jaitley said that he was embarrassed when Rahul Gandhi called dynasty politics a part of India’s character. “This is a country where a tea seller became the prime minister,” the finance minister said, responding to Gandhi’s remarks.

Similarly, in October, Narendra Modi subtly mocked the Nehru-Gandhi family when he termed the Gujarat Assembly elections as a battle between “vikasvaad” (development) and “vanshvaad” (dynasty).

However, one BJP minister from Gujarat, Parshottam Solanki, has questioned his party's stand on "dynasty politics." The reason: He is all set to launch his son in politics.

They should not target the Gandhis. Did Rahul ever intervene in your matters, and say give ticket to this one or that one? He does not. So why do you have to say?

Parshottam Solanki told The Indian Express

Solanki, who’s the fisheries minister from Gujarat, is so confident of a victory that he has planned to launch his son Divyesh by 2022, The Indian Express reported.

Having won the Gobha/Bhavnagar Rural seat since 1998, Solanki will launch his son from the constituency next time.

110 percent, after five years Divyesh will contest…from this very constituency.

Parshottam Solanki told <i>The Indian Express</i>

He also asserted that the BJP will have to support him with his decision if they want his support.

They will support me because they want to win the nine seats of Bhavnagar, and if they don’t give my son [the ticket], I won’t step out to campaign.

Parshottam Solanki told <i>The Indian Express</i>

This election, Solanki has mostly stayed within his bungalow on the main road of Bhavnagar, while his son and daughter have been out campaigning about 20 km away in the city of Sihor.

I am already into social work… [This time] I campaigned for the sake of my father and vansh (dynasty). Besides, I am also the president of the youth wing of Koli Sena.

Divyesh told <i>The Indian Express</i>

(With inputs from the Indian Express)

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