India’s democracy can at times be looked at as a ‘family business’. For decades, tickets have been distributed by political parties to the children of party stalwarts & Chief Ministerial berths have been randomly shared between spouses. Here is a closer look at this problem.
Most of this data is courtesy the research of writer & historian, Patrick French.
Lok Sabha Dynasty
156 out of 545* Lok Sabha members come from political families. That means close to 30% of the Lok Sabha members are probably Members of Parliament only because of their last names.
To add to these 156 MPs there are several MPs who are actors/cricketers/business tycoons etc.
In addition, almost 70% (41 out of 59) of Woman MPs in the Lok Sabha are from political families.
Youth ‘Power’
Here is something (slap across the face) for proponents of the emerging ‘youth power’ theory in Indian politics. It seems all that has happened is that political families are becoming more confident of empowering their fledglings.
Silver Lining?
However, there are also numerous examples of politicians making it big, without any family backing. A list of the current Chief Ministers of India is testimony to this. Out of 30 Chief Ministers, only 4 come from political families of note. Here is the illustrious lot:
1. Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy – Andhra – Son of a former Congress party member, who was a minister in P. V. Narasimha Rao cabinet
2. Bhupinder Singh Hooda – Haryana – Son of former Minister of Punjab & Haryana
3. Omar Abdullah – Jammu & Kashmir – Son of former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
4. Naveen Patnaik – Orissa – Son of former Cheif Minister of Orissa
The Counter Argument & Counter-Counter Argument
Some viewpoints argue that there is nothing wrong with dynastic politics because at the end of the day a candidate has to win a fair & free election before becoming an MP/MLA. Also, it is said that it is quite natural for a son of an MP to aspire to become an MP just as often the children of doctors, lawyers & butchers often end up becoming doctors, lawyers & butchers.
However, the reality of the situation is quite different. Political parties have a single minded focus towards winning elections at any cost. They use all possible tactics to do so. These tactics include use of muscle power , use of money power and use of influence when in power. Giving tickets to relatives of party leaders is often the easiest route of winning an election irrespective of the credentials of the candidate. While India is the largest democracy in the world, there seems to be no democracy in the internal functioning of political parties function. The electorate can only vote for a candidate who is given a ticket by political parties. Hence the onus of providing the electorate with the best possible candidate (even if the candidate is NOT the son of the mother of the aunt of the party president) lies with the party.
All political parties are established on ideals of public service & selflessness. This needs to be remembered by the parties and at some point, the most important jobs in the country must cease from becoming hand-me-down freebies.
* 543 elected members + 2 nominated members from the Anglo Indian community.
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Indian Politics now ruled and ruined not only the family dynasty,sycophant especially the congress
party,after Emergency declared congress party divided one organisation congress and other Indira
Congress. Now for the past decade most of the political parties dominated by Criminals,Goondas and
dadhas and most of them Crorepathis. I am inclined to openly say Members of Parliament has been
switched over to MONEY AND POWER., AND FOR NOTHING THEY HAVE POWER PLUS ALL BENEFITS WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED TO POWER. This is the
real factual position.Previously Parliament was dominated by Sugar Lobby now ruled by Criminals
and Corrupt Lobby and National Interest totally forgotten by elected members.If this systems are
not changed within two or three years,PEOPLE OF INDIA WILL DEFINITELY LOSE FAI
Because the Laws and Acts for the Republicans in our country has been Designed as such that we should always be dehydrated form the basic essential needs and get fussed into our life needs looking no further into the national interests and matters to their evil interests and malpractices. It’s for sure, manifestation for a big secret conjunction has been developed confidentially tied between politicians+Industrialists+ Jurisdiction+ Bought Media (broadcast and print) as we watch on what they want to show us + Administration + Police + Army (Tometo Ketchup false encounter on kargil ppl.) and the series of never ending Scams worth billions and trillions of our funds. Over to it Chamchagiri to fetch the ticket for the seat and a never ending episode of dynasty ruling. All mere an Eyewash on the name of F***ing Democracy. Don’t Act together and find our Children w’d better be their slaves when this is the so called Democracy ! Shameless creatures ! with too tough a Skin beneath. Either do, or Die, don’t live a life of a dead person. It’s always good to Die once fighting for our rights than to Die everyday. Guru Gobind singh ji once sloganed ‘ De He Shiva Bar Mohe Ehe, Shubhkarman Se Kabahun na Tarun’. lets get one family all together and fight with a sensation to do or die…..Jai Bharat… Jai Jharkhand !
I Like it. vimal, hansi, haryana
that’s india man………………………………….. incredible india isn’t it.
this is what we called democracy……………….
Dude, this list of CMs is way too short. What about Maharashtra CM? He also comes from political family. What about TN?
@TheInder:twitter Prithviraj Chavan seems to have no political family. His predecessor Ashok Chavan was from a political family though.
While Jayalalitha does have links to strong political families, we could not find a blood relative or a nuptial one who is from a political family. She probably has managed to make it big in politics without ”family support”. We can’t prove otherwise 🙂
Please correct if wrong.
Amma is superstar!!!
… dont need pol family..
Shanti Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan qualify here?
Why not…
BAAP KA MAAL – INDIA IS INFESTED WITH CORRUPT DYNASTIES
————
NATIONAL
——–
NEHRU CLAN – Congress
1. Jawaharlal Nehru (PM)
2. Vijaya Laxmi Pandit (Nehru’s Sister, MP)
3. Indira Gandhi (PM)
4. Uma Nehru (Indira’s Cousin, MP)
5. Arun Nehru (Son of Uma, MP, Minister)
6. Sanjay Gandhi (MP, Party General Secretary)
7. Rajiv Gandhi (PM)
8. Sonia Gandhi (Rajiv’s Widow, Party President)
9. Rahul Gandhi (Rajiv’s Son, MP, Party Vice President)
10. Priyanka Gandhi (Rajiv’s Daughter, Active Party Activist)
NEHRU CLAN – BJP
———-
1. Maneka Gandhi (Sanjay Gandhi’s Widow, MP)
2. Varun Gandhi (Sanjay’s Son, MP)
JAMMU AND KASHMIR
——-
ABDULLAH CLAN – National Conference
———-
1. Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah
2. Begum Akbar Abdullah (Wife of Sheikh Mohammed, MP)
3. Farooq Abdullah (Sheikh Mohammed’s Son, CM)
4. Omar Abdullah (Farooq’s Son, CM)
5. Begum Khalida Shah (Farooq’s Daughter)
6. Ghulam Mohammed Shah (Farooq’s Son-in-Law)
MUFTI CLAN – People’s Democratic Party
1. Mufti Mohammed Sayeed
2. Salman Anees Soz (Mufti’s Son)
3. Mehbooba Mufti (Mufti’s Daughter)
PUNJAB
——–
BEANT SINGH CLAN – Congress
1. Beant Singh (CM)
2. Gurkanwal Kaur (Wife, MLA)
3. Ravneet Singh Bittu (Son, MP)
4. Tej Parkash Singh (MLA, Minister)
5. Gurkirat Singh (MLA)
AMARINDER SINGH CLAN – Congress
1. Yadavindra Singh (King of Patiala)
2. Mohinder Kaur (MP)
3. Amarinder Singh (CM)
4. Preneet Kaur (Amarinder’s Wife, MLA, Minister, MP)
5. Raninder Singh (Amarainder’s Son, MLA, MP)
6. Malvinder Singh (Amarinder’ Brother, MLA)
BADAL CLAN – Akali Dal
1. Parkash Singh Badal (CM, MP, Minister)
2. Sukhbir Singh Badal (Parkash’s Son, Deputy CM, Party President)
3. Hasimrat Kaur Badal (Sukhbir’s Wife, MP)
BRAR CLAN – Akali Dal
1. Jaswinder Singh Brar (MLA, Minister)
2. Mantar Singh Brar (Son, MLA)
3. Paramjit Kaur Dhillon (Daughter, Municipality)
MEGHALAYA
——–
SANGAMA CLAN – National People’s Party | Congress
1. PA Sangama (MLA, MP, Minister, Speaker)
2. Agatha Sangama (Daughter, MLA, MP)
3. Conrad Sangama (Son, MLA)
DELHI
———
DIKSHIT CLAN – Congress
1. Uma Shanker Dikshit (MP, Minister)
2. Sheila Dikshit (Daughter in Law, CM, MP, Minister)
3. Sandeep Dikshit (Sheila’s Son, MP)
HARYANA
———
CHARAN SINGH CLAN – Lok Dal
1. Chaudhury Charan Singh (MP, PM)
2. Ajit Singh (Son, MP, Minister)
3. Jayant Chaudhary (Grandson, MP)
DEVI LAL CLAN – Indian National Lok Dal
1. Devi Lal (CM, MP, PM)
2. Om Prakash Chautala (Son, CM)
3. Ranjit Singh (Son, MP – Congress)
4. Ajay Singh Chautala (Ranjit’s Son, MLA)
5. Abhay Singh Chautala (Ranjit’s Son, MLA)
BANSI LAL CLAN – Congress
1. Bansi Lal (CM)
2. Surender Singh (Son, MP)
3. Kiran Chaudhary (Surinder’s Wife, MP)
4. Shruti Chaudhary (Surender’s Wife, MP)
5. Ranbir Singh Mahendra (Son, MLA)
BHAJAN SINGH CLAN – Haryana Janhit Congress
1. Bhajan Lal (CM)
2. Chander Mohan (Son, Deputy CM)
3. Kuldeep Bishnoi (Son, MP)
4. Renuka Bishnoi (Kuldeep’s Wife, MLA)
HOODA CLAN – Congress
1. Ranbir Singh Hooda (MP, Minister)
2. Bhupinder Singh Hooda (Son, CM)
3. Deepender Singh Hooda (Bhupinder’s Son, MP)
DEVI LAL CLAN – Indian National Lok Dal
1. Devi Lal (CM, MP, PM)
2. Om Prakash Chautala (Son, CM)
3. Ranjit Singh (Son, MP – Congress)
4. Ajay Singh Chautala (Ranjit’s Son, MLA)
5. Abhay Singh Chautala (Ranjit’s Son, MLA)
BIHAR
——-
YADAV CLAN – RJD
1. Laloo Prasad Yadav (CM, MP, Minister)
2. Rabri Devi (Wife, MLA, CM)
3. Tejaswi Yadav (Son, MP)
4. Sadhu Yadav (Brother, MLA, MP)
5. Subhash Yadav (Rabri’s Brother, MLA, MP)
MISHRA CLAN – BJP
1. Lalit Narayan Mishra (MP, Minister)
2. Kameshwari Devi (Wife, MP)
3. Vijay Kumar Mishra (Son, MLC, MP)
4. Gouri Shankar Rajhans (Niece’s Husband, MP)
5. Jagannath Mishra (Brother, MP, Minister)
6. Nitish Mishra (Jagannath’s Son, MLA, Minister)
7. Rishi Mishra (Vijay Kumar’s Son, Janta Dal Party General Secretary)
8. Shipra Mishra (Jagannath’s Daughter-in-Law, Mahila Congress)
UTTAR PRADESH
——–
YADAV CLAN – Samajwadi Party
1. Mualyam Singh Yadav (CM, MP, Minister)
2. Akhilesh Yadav (Son, MLA, MP, CM)
3. Dimple Yadav (Akhilesh’s Wife, MP)
4. Dharmendra Yadav (Nephew, MP)
5. Shivpal Singh Yadav (Cousin, MLA, Minister)
6. Ram Gopal Yadav (Cousin, MP)
KHURSHID CLAN – Congress
1. Khurshid Alam Khan (MP, Minister)
2. Salman Khurshid (Son, MP, Minister)
3. Louise Khurshid (Salman’s Wife, Defeated MP Candidate)
RAJASTHAN
——–
SCINDIA CLAN – BJP
1. Vasundhara Raje Scindia (Vijayaraje’ Daughter, CM)
2. Dushyant Singh (Son, MP)
MADHYA PRADESH
———
DIGVIJAY SINGH CLAN – Congress
1. Digvijay Singh (CM, MP, Minister)
2. Laxman Singh (Brother, MLA, MP)
3. Jaivardhan Singh (Son, MP)
SCINDIA CLAN – BJP
1. Rajmata Vijayraje Scindia (MP – BJP)
2. Madhavrao Scindia (Son – Congress)
3. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Madhavrao’s Son – Congress)
4. Yashodhara Raje Scindia (Vijayaraje’s Daughter, MLA, BJP)
ODISHA
———-
PATANAIK CLAN – BIJU JANATA DAL
1. Biju Patanaik
2. Naveen Patanaik (Son)
MAHARASHTRA
———–
PAWAR CLAN – NCP
1. Sharad Pawar (50 Years in Power, Called Corruption King)
2. Supriya Sule (Pawar’s Daughter)
3. Ajit Pawar (Nephew, MLA, Deputy CM)
DEORA CLAN – Congress
1. Murli Deora
2. Milind Deora
THACKEREY CLAN – Shiva Sena and MNS
1. Bal Thackerey
2. Shrikant Thackrey (Brother)
3. Uddhav Thackerey (Son)
4. Raj Thackerey (Nephew)
PATIL CLAN – Congress
1. D.Y.Patil (Congress Fund Raiser, Bihar Governor)
2. Satej alias Bunty Patil (Brother, MLA, Minister)
NAIK CLAN – Congress
1. Ganesh Naik (MP, Minister)
2. Sanjeev Naik (Son, MP)
3. Sandeep Naik (Son, MLA)
4. Tukaram Naik (Opposition Leader, Navi Mumbai Municipality)
5. Gyaneshwar Naik
6. Sagar Naik (Son of Gyaneshwar, Mayor)
KARNATAKA
———
GOWDA CLAN – Janata Dal
1. HD Deve Gowda (PM)
2. HD Kumaraswamy (Son, CM)
3. H D Revanna (Son, MLA, Minister)
YS YEDDYIRUPPA CLAN – BJP
1. YSR Yeddyruppa (CM)
2. Y Raghavendra (Son, MP)
3. B Y Vijendra (Son)
4. R N Sohan Kumar (Son in Law)
5. PRERENA TRUST – run by Yeddyurappa’s family
TAMILNADU
——–
KARUNANIDHI CLAN – DMK
1. M. Karunanidhi (CM)
2. MK Alagiri (Son, MLA, MP, Minister)
3. MK Stalin (Son, Deputy CM)
4. Kanimozi (Daughter, MP)
5. Murasoli Maran (Nephew, MP, Minister)
6. Dayanidhi Maran (Murasoli’s Son, MP, Minister)
ANDHRA PRADESH
———-
NTR CLAN – TELUGU DESAM PARTY
1. Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao “NT Rama Rao or NTR” (CM)
2. Laxmi Parvathy, (2nd Wife of NTR, Party President)
3. Nandamuri Harikrishna (Son, MP, Minister)
4. Nandamuri Balakrishna (Son, MLA)
5. Daggubati Purandareswari (Daughter, MLA, Minister)
6. Daggubati Venkateswara Rao (Son-in-Law, MLA, MP, Minister)
7. Nara Chandrababu Naidu (Son-in-Law, CM)
YSR REDDY CLAN – Congress
1. Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy (CM)
2. Y. S. Vijayamma (Wife, MLA)
3. Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy (Son, MP)
4. Y. S. Vivekananda Reddy (Brother, MLA, Minister)