Marathi groups demand Indore LS ticket for Mahajan's son

Indore-based organisations of Marathi-speaking people have written to BJP president Amit Shah demanding that, in case sitting MP Sumitra Mahajan is denied a party ticket for the April-May Lok Sabha polls, then her son Milind be considered.

Indore Lok Sabha seat, a BJP stronghold, has been held by Mahajan since 1989 but no candidate has been declared by the party as yet giving rise to speculation that the Lok Speaker might be eased out as she will turn 76 in a few days time.

"If the BJP re-nominates Mahajan, we will ensure that she is victorious. In case she is not nominated, as per the party's stand of not giving tickets to those above 75 years of age, then we want her son Milind to be given a ticket," local corporator and Mahajan supporter Sudhir Dedge said.

He said a request letter had been sent to Shah but did not divulge the date when it was sent.

Milind is executive president of Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal, a cultural organisation working for the welfare of Marathi-speaking people living outside Maharashtra.

Out of the 26 lakh voters in Indore, some three lakh are Marathi speakers, Dedge said, adding that 35 community-based organisations are supporting Milind.

"I have come to know about the demand. I am a BJP soldier and if the party wants to me assign me a role in the Lok Sabha polls, I will consider it positively," Milind told PTI.

However, his younger brother Mandar, issued a statement Tuesday asserting that though Mahajan, popularly called Tai (elder sister) here, was a Marathi, she had worked along side all communities as eight-time MP for the development of Indore.

Indore will go to polls on May 19.