'Not possible to issue tickets based on DNA, genes'

BJP national joint organising secretary, B L Santhosh, has said that the party membership has value in the BJP, not DNA or genes.

At a meeting with intellectuals here on Thursday, Santhosh said, "How can we issue tickets based on DNA or genes? If we keep doing so, then what's the value of membership? The BJP will not follow such practice, he said replying to a query on why Tejaswini Ananth Kumar was denied ticket from Bangalore South parliamentary seat.

"The party has honoured and will keep honouring late Ananth Kumar for organising and strengthening the party in the state. Fifty years down the line, Ananth Kumar will be remembered for building the party in the state. But it is not fair to expect that his wife should benefit or inherit the seat from Ananth, who played a vital role in building the party," said, the RSS face in BJP.

"I have no intention to hurt Tejaswini. But, the youths should get an opportunity. Tickets should be issued to those who will be in politics for the next 30 years. Tejaswini has been made vice-president of the BJP. She can get into active politics in the coming days," he said.