Political legatees a worrying trend in Indian politics

All in the family: Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka are not the only ‘political children’ in the recent Indian elections. BJP also has second-generation politicians like Bansuri Swaraj and Anurag Thakur.

THE 2024 Lok Sabha (India’s lower house of parliament) elections reveal a persistent trend in the country’s politics: the dominance of political dynasties.

A recent study shows that one in four candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress are political legatees, highlighting a troubling pattern where family connections significantly influence political participation. This phenomenon raises critical questions about meritocracy and the accessibility of political careers to ordinary citizens.