Weeks after the death of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, his sons have crossed swords over the political heritage of their father.

The younger son, Neeraj Shekhar, has the backing of most political parties, but the elder son Pankaj too has announced his intention to contest from the Ballia Parliamentary seat. Elections to this seat is to be held on August 29.

According to leaders of the Samajwadi Janta Party (SJP), founded by Chandra Shekhar, the tussle between the two brothers broke out on the day of ‘Shanti Path’ held at Ibrahimpur Patti village of Ballia on July 20. Both of them announced their intentions to contest. Neeraj has the blessings of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. Pankaj, on the other hand, may join the Congress in case no party backs his candidature, suggest reports.

All the parties, except the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), are yet to announce their candidates for the seat. The BSP has decided to field Vinay Shankar Tewari, son of former minister and once a noted mafia Hari Shankar Tewari. He has been asked to start campaigning. Many Dalit leaders have also been sent to the constituency to mobilise the large Dalit votebank there.

Neeraj looked after election campaigns of Chandra Shekhar in the last five elections, and had accompanied him during the Bharat Yatra.

Barring the 1984 general elections, Chandra Shekhar had regularly won from Ballia seat since 1971. The SP, which did not fielded candidates against Chandra Shekhar, is indecisive this time due to the tussle. Meanwhile, the BJP national President is known to have given his “blessings” to the younger brother.