After mocking Congress for years over dynasty politics, the Bhartiya Janta Party is now following the same policy with much vigour. In the upcoming Mumbai civic elections, the party has preferred kin of ministers, legislators and even member of parliament over hardworking members for distribution of tickets.

At least a dozen BJP contestants belong to politically strong families with their father, spouses or close relatives being members of Assembly and Parliament. The official candidates list was not released by the party till the time of going to press. (February 3 is the last date of nomination).

Party sources confirmed at least two dozen party candidates are spouses, sons or close relatives of the senior leaders.

Neel Somaiya, son of MP Kirit Somaiya, Deepak Thakur-son of Minister of state Vidya Thakur, Akash Purohit-son of MLA Raj Purohit, Rohan Rathod-brother in law of MLA Amit Satam, Vinod Shelar-brother of MLA and Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar are among the lucky relatives.

Murugan Selvan-brother of MLA Tamil Selvan, Shailja Girkar-wife of MLA Bhai Girkar are also touted to be BJP candidates. At least four couples are also in the fray from the BJP, which claims to be a cadre-based party. This includes newly inducted Nana Ambole and his wife Tejaswini (Lalbaug and Parel), Murji Patel and his wife Kesharben ( Andheri east).

Most of them are first-timers and will be tasting the water from their "home constituency" represented by their relatives in the past. Evidently, stakes are high for all these families. If their kin win the elections, the families would be able to expand their base and exert power from local bodies to Assembly and Parliament. If not, then they may bag key posts in the party or projects and would try their luck next time.

On its part, BJP claims these candidates are in the party for long and have been handpicked by the Chief Minister himself. "There is nothing wrong in giving tickets to these people who had worked for the party. My brother in law Rohan Rathod has been a Yuva Morhca member and BJP's Andheri ward. CM himself nominated him after the Party recommended his name following the local survey," justifies Amit Satam.

Most turncoats who quit their respective parties over ticket distribution and joined the BJP recently have also managed to get tickets, thanks to availability of all 227 constituencies after the break-up with Shiv Sena. Scarcity of good candidates has prompted BJP to field its high profile leader and media-incharge Atul Shah from the Muslim concentrated Byculla (Ward 220) for elections. "If BJP comes to power, he would be the top contender for the Mayor's post," party has reportedly assured him.

All in the family

Neel Somaiya-(Mulund 108): MP Kirit Somaiya's son

Deepak Thakur (Goregaon 50)- Minister Vidya Thakur's son

Akash Purohit (Colaba)-MLA Raj Purohit's son

Rohan Rathod (Versova 68)-Amit Satam's brother-in-law

Murugan Selvam (Wadala)-MLA Tamil Selvan's brother

Vinod Shelar (Goregaon 51): Brother of MLA & Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar