Party leaders say that both parties have got requests from senior leaders to let their children contest in their place.
"These are old and influential leaders who have high political connections. Congress veteran and former MP Sajjan Kumar's son Jag Parvesh Kumar is going to get an Assembly ticket, probably from Sangam Vihar in south Delhi," said one Congress leader.
Sources from both the parties have confirmed about at least four such faces in their parties. In Congress there are leaders like Sajjan Kumar, parliamentarian Mahabal Mishra, MLAs Mukesh Sharma, Chaudhary Prem Singh and Prahlad Singh Sawhney who want their sons to contest elections.
Similarly in the BJP there are sons of veteran leaders and former chief ministers like Sahib Singh Verma and Madan Lal Khurana who may get tickets.
Opposition leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra and Tilak Nagar MLA O.P. Babbar are also trying to get tickets for their sons.
Leaders of both the parties said that most of the young faces have been politically active for the last few years and view the present as the time to reap. Jag Parvesh, the son of Congress veteran Sajjan Kumar, made his presence felt early this year by holding a large rally at Talkatora Stadium on the regularisation of unauthorised colonies.
Sajjan's brother Ramesh Kumar successfully contested from the South Delhi parliamentary seat in the last general elections after the Congress decided to bar Sajjan from contesting following the 1984 anti-Sikh riot protests.
In the case of Ajay Kumar Malhotra, pamphlets and handouts have been distributed in which he is seen with his more recognisable father, senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly V.K. Malhotra.
Mukesh Sharma, four-time MLA from Uttam Nagar constituency, has requested the top leadership in the Congress for one more seat. Sources said that his son Ankit Sharma who was active in student politics (NSUI) and now participates in day-to-day political activities of the party is strong contender for the Vikaspuri seat in west Delhi.
Gadkari has said that only those with the capacity to win will get tickets. Similarly, Rahul has set some tough criteria like past records, contribution to the party, visibility in the constituency, loyalty and others. But these rules will hardly be followed for 'VIP sons'.
In the Congress, for instance, Vinay Mishra - son of Mahabal Mishra - is a top contender for the Dwarka seat with little political contribution to speak of. Businessman Ajay Malhotra, son of BJP leader V.K. Malhotra, is from the same feather.
Son-rises cause infighting
The emergence of young faces has already generated controversy in some seats. For instance, former chief minister Sahib Singh Verma's son Parvesh wants to make his political debut from the Shalimar Bagh seat. Party sources said, however, that state BJP president Vijay Goel also wants the same seat for himself or his wife Preeti Goel.A similar situation holds at Greater Kailash, which has been a BJP stronghold for a long time. The seat is held by V.K. Malhotra, who has decided to field his son Ajay Malhotra from it even as many other aspirants have made their ambitions clear.
State BJP leader Vijay Jolly has already registered his disappointment over the issue to the top leadership and it is yet to be seen who will get the ticket when it is announced a few days later.
