• Tweet
• Email

• Tweet
• Email

Elections 2014: Relevance Of ‘Dhartiputra‘ (Son Of Soil)

Leaders from many political parties are contesting from constituencies which are not their home place. Under these circumstances is ‘Dhartiputra’ (son of soil) having any relevance?

New Delhi: The latest concept used by some contestants for showing superiority over the opponents some of the contestants is ‘dhartiputra’. Their meaning is that they belong to the local constituency from which they are contesting the particular elections.

In today’s atmosphere many leaders (state as well as centre) are seeking elections from different places. Under these circumstances, the concept of ‘Dhartiputra’ has little relevance.

Take for example, our PM Manmohan Singh is basically from Punjab but his address as per records of EC shows Assam.

Celebrities change their residence depending on the requirements. Take for instances, the bollywood top heroines Jayaprada & Sridevi (originally born in AP & most of their movie career they spent in Tamil Nadu) and after marriage they settled in Maharashtra. Their nativity in context of ‘Dhartiputra’ would be confusing. Jayaprada already moved away from AP long back and for the last 2 general elections he fought from UP and even today he claims that she is ‘Andhra Bidda’ (daughter of AP).

Ex-Indian cricket team captain Mohd Azharuddin (from Hyderabad in AP) is contesting in UP elections. He has to be treated as a local in UP as long as the required documents are submitted by him.

BJP PM Candidate (from Gujarat) is contesting from MP constituency of Vadodara (Guajrat) as well as Varanasi (UP). He can’t be termed as a non-Dhartiputra. Chief Coordinator of Aam Aadmi Party (originally from Delhi) is seeking election from Varanasi (UP) against Narendra Modi. Another opponent of NaMo in Varanasi (Ajai Rai on Congress ticket) mentions that this election is between ‘Dhartiputra’ (Ajai Rai in this case) and outsider (NaMo & Kejriwal).

While on the subject, we have another instance of Rahul Gandhi. This vice president of India’s ruling party failed to procure the required domicile certificate from UP administration. It is a point to note that he has been the representative of UP people for 10 years and he don’t have domicile certificate. If this is so, Rahul Gandhi can’t be termed as ‘Dhartiputra’ (local) from UP as long as and if he is unable to submit the required certificates.

Sum and substances of the above instances is that the Dhartiputra concept has no relevance and this should never be made a poll issue.