BJP gives ticket to Supriya Sule's daughter's future father in-law

Amidst his candidacy for the Maharashtra legislative council elections, BJP's Arun Lakhani navigates the intersection of politics and family, as his son prepares to marry the daughter of NCP MP Supriya Sule.

Industrialist and Bharatiya Janata Party MLC poll candidate Arun Lakhani, whose son is set to marry daughter of Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar MP Supriya Sule, a rival of the saffron party, on Monday said there was nothing unusual in his nomination and insisted politics and family ties are separate matters.

The BJP has fielded Lakhani from the Wardha-Chandrapur-Gadchiroli local authorities constituency for the June 18 Maharashtra legislative council elections, a nomination that has drawn a lot of political attention in the state. Lakhani's son Sarang is set to marry Sule's daughter Revati.

The Nationalist Congress Party-SP, headed by veteran politician Sharad Pawar, the father of Sule, is a rival of the BJP.

"Supriya Tai sent me a congratulatory message. The reference to the Pawar family is natural because it is a large political family and we are related. I do not see anything unusual in that," Lakhani told a Marathi news channel after being named a BJP candidate.

Asked whether his political affiliation and family ties to the Pawars created a unique equation, the industrialist maintained politics is a separate matter and insisted both sides are committed to their respective ideologies.

Lakhani emphasised he was honoured by the confidence shown in him by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra BJP leaders, including CM Devendra Fadnavis.

On his electoral prospects, Lakhani said voters in a democracy choose candidates who they believe will work for them and help deliver the benefits of government-run welfare schemes, and expressed confidence about his victory.

The BJP nominee acknowledged the constituency from where he is contesting was vast and diverse, covering three districts with distinct characteristics, including the backward Gadchiroli, once affected by Naxalism, and Wardha, which was closely linked with Mahatma Gandhi.

However, he dismissed suggestions that the terrain would pose difficulties.

"I have travelled extensively in this region earlier during my work with Laxmanrao Mankar Trust. I have connections with people and these three districts (Wardha, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli) are not new to me. The BJP has given me this opportunity and I am confident of winning the election," he said.

Lakhani, who has also served as an administrator with the Maharashtra Badminton Association, stated that contesting an election would be a learning experience for him, though he hoped the campaign would be conducted in a healthy and sporting spirit.

Opposition Shiv Sena-UBT and the Congress reacted differently to Lakhani's nomination.

Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut, who described the industrialist as a "gentleman", said there was nothing peculiar about his nomination, noting he has always backed the RSS.

"There was nothing peculiar about Lakhani (getting nominated as BJP's candidate for the legislative council polls). He has been a member, and he is a gentleman who gives strength to the RSS in every way," Raut told reporters in Mumbai.

The Rajya Sabha MP maintained that there are many lawmakers in Parliament from Maharashtra whose roots are in the RSS.

"Lakhani is not from the Congress or the NCP-SP. Lakhani comes from the list of people in Vidarbha who have backed the RSS from the very beginning," Raut said.

Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar took a swipe at the BJP over Lakhani's candidature.

The BJP appears to be giving preference to industrialists over grassroots workers, he told reporters.

Elections to 16 legislative council seats from the Local Self-Government bodies and a bypoll from the Nagpur self-government body are scheduled for June 18.

The elections are being held from local authorities' constituencies across Maharashtra, where members of local self-government bodies form the electoral college for electing members to the legislative council. These constituencies are spread across several districts.

June 1 is the last date for filing nominations for the polls. Scrutiny of nominations will take place on June 2, and the last date for withdrawal is June 4. Votes will be counted on June 22.