Dynasty politics is here to stay in Bihar

Patna: With Assembly elections round the corner, dynasty politics is one of issues that will never find resonance amongst politicians. The reason, everybody's interests lie here literally.

Many senior politicians have been lobbying for tickets for their relatives for the forthcoming Bihar Assembly elections even though dates have still not been announced. Many are satisfied with the assurances while many are awaiting the high command's approval. Bihar election is going to be a launch pad for the relatives of many senior politicians.

The most prominent names doing the rounds is Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad's son. With Lalu Prasad ruled out of the fray due to conviction in the fodder scam, he is believed to be ensuring that these Assembly elections are a launch pad for his eldest son Tej Pratap from Mahua constituency which is currently held by JDU's Ravindra Rai. Surprisingly Tej Pratap has not been very active in politics.

Lalu had always been very vocal about dynasty politics despite the fact that his eldest daughter Misa Bharti contested the 2014 Lok sabha elections from Patliputra and lost to his one time friend turned bete-noire Ram Kripal Yadav.

This is the same Lalu Yadav who openly displayed his approval of dynasty politics when he chose his wife Rabri Devi to be the chief minister of Bihar when he was sent to jail in the fodder scam in the late 1990s. It was assumed that his younger son Tejaswi, who was also a part of Delhi Daredevils team in the IPL, though in a side-kick role, and the one who headed the youth wing to take on the political mantle but turn of events reflect that he has indeed chosen his elder son Tej Pratap,a politcal novice to don his political cap.

The younger son Tejashwi Yadav was actively involved in campaigning for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. He is eyeing the Sonpur seat.

Lalu's eldest daughter Misa Bharti will contest from Raghopur seat which was earlier held by none other than Rabri Devi giving her already wrecked political career a boost. Despite the fact that Rabri Devi had lost the seat in 2010 assembly elections, it is still considered to be one of the safer seats for the RJD by many.

This sudden surge of dynasty politics in Lalu had created a small rebellion in the party during the Lok sabha elections compelling his trusted lieutenant Ram Kripal Yadav to migrate to the BJP and subsequently win the Patliputra seat on a BJP ticket.

Lalu is still nurturing the 'home-grown younger talent' and hoping for a reversal of fortunes.

Lalu is not the only one accused on this count. Ram Vilas Paswan's son, Chirag Paswan, after having a small stint in Bollywood, is now an MP from Jamui. Former Bihar chief minister Jagannath Mishra's son Nitish Mishra is a MLA and minister in the incumbent state government.

Rishi Mishra, JDU MLA from Jale, is the grandson of former railway minister Lalit Narayan Mishra, who was assassinated, and younger son of Vijay Kumar Mishra. Vijay Mishra has held the Jale seat from the BJP and switched sides when the JDU-BJP alliance was severed in 2013. He later on became a MLC on a JDU ticket. The vacant seat thus went to his son Rishi Mishra in 2014 bypolls and he is likely to contest for the same constituency in the coming elections.

Senior BJP leader CP Thakur has been pushing for his son Vijay Thakur. Though, the junior Thakur has been initiated into politics for years now after having been a MLC from Digha, this elections could well mark his electoral debut.

Chhedi Paswan, BJP MP, is pushing hard for his son Ravi Paswan from Chenari seat. Sudhakar Singh, son of former Bihar minister Jagadanand Singh, has been openly claiming a BJP ticket for the Ramgarh seat. Former minister Sitaram Singh is also trying for a BJP ticket for his son Rana Randhir Singh from Madhubani seat in Mithilanchal.

Almost all prominent political parties are flooded with requests by their older elders to accommodate their wards and close relatives.

Those left without an option have tried to enter the political arena by floating new outfits like Hindustan Awami Party (HAM) led by former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) led by expelled RJD MP from Madhepura, Pappu Yadav.

Santosh Manjhi, son of Jitan Ram Manjhi, who was in news in 2014 for allegedly assaulting a hotel manager in Gaya, has also openly spoken of his desire to contest election from Gaya. Manjhi has expressed his desire to be a part of any alliance which does not include Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Manjhi is not the only one in HAM to promote his son. HAM leader Narendra Singh looks poised to field his sons from Jamui and Chakai seats, respectively.

Similarly, Ram Lakhan Ram Raman of JDU and Raghunath Jha of RJD are all set to launch their son's in the upcoming elections.

The current political scenario in Bihar though not crystal clear, is indicative of the fact that Bihar politics is poised to go the Dravidian way or the SP way in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.

With the likes of Karunanidhi, Mulayam and HD Deve Gowda who have made their sons as their respective political heirs, whether the best candidate wins or lose becomes non-meaningful. It also creates a doubt in the mind of cadre and party workers who nurture the aspiration of coming to the political fore by contesting an elections. We can only hope that these politically and well-groomed heirs do not add to the sagging fortunes of their families.

(Amit Raj Singh is a journalist who divides his time between Patna and Delhi)