The following article appears in the April 24, 2004 issue of the Times of India:
Dikshit Jr Hits the Road
NEW DELHI: His mother’s son. His introduction? His mother’s five years in Delhi have made the city breathe easy.
Basking in the reflected glory of Sheila Dikshit’s second consecutive victory, Sandeep Dikshit, her protege, is the man in the constituency which the Congress has lost four times in a row.
Inaugurating election office at Babarpur, padyatras in Geeta Colony and public meetings in Lakshmi Nagar, Sandeep Dikshit is trying to break in. “He is the son of Sheila Dikshit,” bellows a youth in his grandfather’s ears as Dikshit inaugurates an election office on 100 Foota road. The old man nods. Outside, Shakuntala, a resident asks: “Who Sandeep? Sheila’s son? I have heard about him. Wonder if he will take care of our problems ? paani, bijli aur naali.”
But Dikshit is confident…
Read the entire article here.
The April 26, 2004 issue of The Indian Express reports a different aspect of the story:
Dikshit Jr Shuns Mother?s Shadow
by Shubhajit Roy
New Delhi, April 26: Sandeep Dikshit (39) sports ear-studs and has always preferred bright colours. But to brave the heat and dust of campaigning, he has switched to the white kurta.
??White is a neutral colour. It attracts the people?s attention and they think this person must be a neta,?? smiles Sandeep, Congress candidate from East Delhi, as he waves at residents of Vishwas Nagar.
Tell that people know him only as CM Sheila Dikshit?s son and may vote for the surname, and Sandeep says: ??It?s an easier identity to begin with. But people also look at how you talk, listen to your ideas. I am telling the people about my work.?? …
Read that article here.