BJP refuses ticket to President Kovind kin, will contest Independent

New Delhi, Nov 10: Failing to get a BJP ticket for the local body elections, President Ram Nath Kovind's niece-in-law has filed her nomination as an Independent in Jhinjhak in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur Dehat district.

Deepa Kovind was keen on contesting for the post of chairperson of the Jhinjhak Nagar Palika Parishad but did not find favour with the BJP's local unit, members of her family said.

Deepa is the wife of President Kovind's nephew Pankaj, the son of his elder brother Pyarelal, and lives in



Jhinjhak.

The local BJP unit, which chose another woman for the seat, said it will try and accommodate her in the party organisation. 

"Deepa Kovind had sought a ticket for the Jhinjhak Nagar Palika Parishad chairman's post. But a survey at the local level found that another woman, Sarojani Devi, enjoyed the support of the people and she was given the ticket," said Rahuldev Agnihotri, district unit president of the BJP in Kanpur Dehat.

He also said the BJP does not indulge in family politics.