Chidambaram defends son's induction into Congress, denies being part of "Dynastic Politics"

Union finance minister Palaniappan Chidambaram on Sunday defended his son Karti Chidambaram's induction into the Congress party, retaliating over criticisms heaped on him by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Talking to mediapersons here on Sunday Chennai, Chidambaram said that his son was inducted into the party to promote youth politics.

"I did not let my son contest but the Congress party chose him to contest as part of a plan to induct young candidates. They have fielded fourteen young candidates in Tamil Nadu. I believe they have fielded over 100 candidates all over India and I have said that please field any young candidate male or female and I will work for his or her success. I have contested eight elections over the last thirty years to parliament. So the question why you are not contesting should be put to persons who have never contested even a Panchayat election like the BJP spokespersons," Chidambaram said.

Meanwhile speaking to journalists in Sivaganga constituency in Tamil Nadu, Karti Chidambaram said he does not bank on caste based politics but believes in putting his best foot forward by working for the welfare of the people.

"The response is very good and the Congress party is very strong in Sivaganga. I am relying on the strength of the Congress party. Also the track record of what we have done here. We have done a lot of things here in Sivaganga both through the government programmes and through the private sectors. And also coupled with the fact that I actually bring forward a different proposition here that I don't belong to any caste, because most of the candidates rely on a caste tag whereas I negate the idea of caste and I openly declare that I don't belong to a caste. These are factors which are working in my favour" he said.

Earlier, Karti Chidambaram's candidature drew flak from the opposition parties who hit at the Finance Minister saying that he was shying away from contesting general elections due to Congress's weak position.