Lucknow: As the Uttar Pradesh elections draw closer, the sons and daughters of senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have intensified their public engagement across the northern state, fuelling speculation about their chances of contesting polls.
From Lucknow to Ghazipur, and Bareilly to Amethi, political heirs are attending local events, participating in outreach campaigns and strengthening their presence in constituencies that could potentially become their political launchpads. Some seek organisational roles while others are being considered as possible candidates for the 2027 Assembly elections.
Party insiders say the issue has become significant, as the new state organisational list was expected to be announced in recent weeks. The delay, they say, is because of the leadership’s dilemma over whom to accommodate in the party structure and whom to prepare for electoral politics.
Neeraj Singh: Rajnath Singh’s younger son
Neeraj Singh, the younger son of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has been drawing considerable attention in political circles lately. While he has been active in Lucknow for several years and often represents his father at public events and party functions in his absence, discussions are now centred around the possibility of a larger role for him within the Uttar Pradesh BJP.
People close to him say that a constituency in Lucknow has been considered for Neeraj. At the same time, there is also speculation that if Neeraj is not fielded in an election, he could be accommodated in the party organisation.
आज पार्षद श्री संजय सिंह राठौर जी द्वारा मालिक टिंबर चौराहा, गोमती नगर में आयोजित विशाल भंडारे में सम्मिलित होकर प्रसाद वितरण किया। pic.twitter.com/9Dniz0SJYp
— 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐣 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡 (@NeerajSinghSays) May 30, 2026
A graduate of the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, Neeraj describes himself on social media as a “dedicated BJP worker”. His X profile bio also highlights more than two decades of service to the organisation. He prefers to project himself as a grassroots leader from Lucknow, incorporating the phrase in his X handle. In Lucknow, he is consider the ‘go to person’ for reaching Rajnath Singh.
One BJP office-bearer in Uttar Pradesh said that Lucknow East Assembly constituency is being discussed as a possible seat for Neeraj. There remains some uncertainty, however, over whether the BJP leadership would be willing to greenlight a third member (after Rajnath and Pankaj Singh) of the same family in electoral politics.
Abhinav Sinha: Manoj Sinha’s son
Abhinav Sinha, son of Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, is once again in the spotlight in Ghazipur district of eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Speculation about his electoral debut had also surfaced before the 2024 general elections, but that never materialised. BJP functionaries in the state now claim that Ghazipur Sadar could emerge as a possible option if the party decides to field him.
A technocrat by profession, Abhinav has steadily increased his public visibility through social and organisational activities. He frequently participates in district training programmes, Swachhta Abhiyan (cleanliness campaigns), and party events.
रेवतीपुर मंडल में पं. दीनदयाल उपाध्याय मंडल प्रशिक्षण महाभियान के अंतर्गत आयोजित प्रशिक्षण शिविर में सहभागिता की।
पार्टी के “इतिहास एवं विकास” विषय पर अपना विचार रखा।
ऐसे शिविर संगठन को सशक्त बनाने के साथ कार्यकर्ताओं में नई ऊर्जा व स्पष्ट दिशा का संचार करते हैं। pic.twitter.com/HkQv65wFCq
— Abhinav Sinha (@AbhinavSinhabjp) April 4, 2026
Sources within the BJP say that Ghazipur Sadar is one of the constituencies from where Abhinav could make his electoral debut. The seat is currently represented by Jai Kishan Sahu of the Samajwadi Party. Meanwhile, Sangeeta Balwant, who had contested from the constituency as the BJP candidate in 2022, was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2024. As a result, the BJP is also exploring new faces for the seat.
Pictures of Abhinav participating in both the joys and hardships of local residents are regularly shared on social media. He also has a website that describes him as a passionate worker and youth leader. In addition, he is frequently seen at district-level party training programmes and events associated with cleanliness drives and public outreach campaigns.
Karan Mahana: UP Speaker Satish Mahana’s son
Another closely watched name is Karan Mahana, son of Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana. A businessman and member of the BJP Yuva Morcha’s national executive, Karan has become increasingly active in Maharajpur, the constituency represented by his father. BJP insiders say Satish Mahana had explored the possibility of contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a move that could have opened the door for his son’s electoral debut through a bypoll. Those plans did not fructify.
Attention has now shifted to the Assembly elections, where the party will have to decide whether to field Karan or retain the senior Mahana in the constituency.
Shruti Gangwar: Santosh Gangwar’s daughter
In Bareilly district, Shruti Gangwar, daughter of Jharkhand Governor and senior BJP leader Santosh Gangwar, has significantly increased her political visibility.
Shruti was considered a potential contender during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections but did not secure a ticket. This time, political observers are closely watching the Baheri seat, where the BJP may be looking for a new Kurmi face following recent political developments. In this Muslim- and Kurmi-dominated constituency, Chhatrapal Gangwar contested the 2022 Assembly election and now represents Bareilly in the Lok Sabha. Now the BJP is looking for a new Kurmi face for the seat.
आर्य समाज खड़ा रामनगर भोपतपुर, तहसील बहेड़ी, जनपद बरेली के 90वें वार्षिकोत्सव में मुख्य अतिथि के रूप में सम्मिलित होने का सौभाग्य प्राप्त हुआ। 🙏🚩
इस अवसर पर वैदिक उपदेश एवं भजनों का श्रवण कर आध्यात्मिक ऊर्जा एवं वैचारिक प्रेरणा प्राप्त हुई। pic.twitter.com/JARII7Dnp0
— Shruti Gangwar (@ShrutiGangwarIN) May 30, 2026
With Santosh Gangwar continuing to wield considerable influence in the Rohilkhand region, Shruti’s frequent appearances at public functions and outreach programmes have fuelled speculation about her electoral prospects.
Shruti’s social media activity also suggests that she has been consistently engaging with people on the ground. In her father’s absence, she is often seen attending public functions and events across Bareilly to which he is invited.
Shalini Singh: Brji Bhushan’s daughter
Shalini Singh, daughter of former legislator Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, has also emerged as a prominent political face in Noida.
A lawyer, author and social activist, Shalini has openly expressed her desire to enter electoral politics. As working president of the Noida Citizen Forum (NCF), she frequently raises civic issues and engages with government officials.
Shalini recently published a collection of poems titled ‘Bebak Hoon, Beadab Nahin (Unapologetic, Not Disrespectful). The book is one of five she has written so far. In the podcast interviews following the book’s launch, she expressed her desire to contest elections and enter active politics.
Her path may not be easy as Noida is represented by Pankaj Singh, Rajnath Singh’s elder son. Moreover, with one brother of Shalini already serving as a Member of the Legislative Assembly and another as a Member of Parliament, party leaders acknowledge there could be resistance to accommodate another member of the family.
Mayank Joshi: Rita Bahuguna’s son
Mayank Joshi, the son of former Uttar Pradesh minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi, has also been generating political buzz in recent months.
Ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections, Mayank was seeking a BJP ticket from the Lucknow Cantonment constituency but joined the Samajwadi Party when he did not get it; Rita Bahuguna Joshi remained with the BJP.
She is now reportedly making efforts to secure a BJP ticket for her son. However, Mayank has not formally left the Samajwadi Party, leaving open the possibility of his contesting on an SP ticket as well. SP functionaries claims that that Akhilesh Yadav shares good relations with the Bahuguna family, so the chances of Mayank getting a ticket there are high.
Sources close to Rita Bahuguna Joshi say she does not want to miss the opportunity this time. According to them, Mayank is likely to contest from whichever party offers him a ticket. Rita herself was denied a Lok Sabha ticket in 2024, and the sources say she is now determined to ensure that her son enters the Assembly, regardless of the circumstances.
Notably, Rita Bahuguna Joshi had left the Congress and joined the BJP ahead of the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
Aakanksha Sinh: Sanjay Sinh’s daughter
In Amethi, Aakanksha Sinh, daughter of former MP Sanjay Sinh, has emerged as one of the most active political heirs in the state.
A Supreme Court lawyer by profession, Aakanksha has been meeting residents across the constituency along with her mother Ameeta Sinh. The family says the people of Amethi will ultimately decide who should represent them.
At public meetings, Ameeta Sinh has acknowledged the family’s reduced visibility in recent years, attributing it to political circumstances. Sanjay Sinh joined the BJP before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and unsuccessfully contested from Amethi in the 2022 Assembly polls. Party sources say he is now keen to see his daughter enter electoral politics.
The growing ambitions of political heirs have created a delicate situation for the BJP leadership. “Many senior leaders in the state want their sons or daughters to enter active politics. Most of them have become active in their areas and are trying to build a political base before the elections. But it is not possible to give opportunities to everyone,” a senior BJP leader conceded to ThePrint.
He added that giving tickets only because of family connections could upset party workers, who have spent years working without any political backing. “The leadership will have to find a balance. It cannot give tickets to everyone, but it is also difficult to ignore them because many have already created a buzz in their constituencies,” he said.
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)
Also Read: Ayodhya, Mirzapur, Lucknow & Etawah: Why there’s unease within BJP about party appointments in UP
BJP should turn down all these kins of politicians and give preference to grass root candidates. Promoting such candidates will narrow difference between other parties who it blames for nepotism. However, BJP is assimilating all evil features of all the parties to move ahead. So no hope for any change. It appears that the society is just getting worse. Just talk no action for change for better future. Politics is really a dirty politics.