Is dynastic politics taking over democracy in India ?

Is India a true Democracy ? or Is there still a tinge of dynastic politics ?

A dynasty is a succession of rulers who belong to the same family for generations. Some of the prominent dynasties in ancient India were Mauryan dynasty, Gupta Dynasty, Mughal dynasty,Chola dynasty.

The smooth transfer of power from a father to a son, a husband to a wife, a family to its clan is overtly visible in Indian politics.

Right from the Indian Independence, one family that has been dominant in the Indian politics is Nehru-Gandhi family. The Nehru-Gandhi dynasty started after Feroze Gandhi, son of Jehangir Faredoon Khan and Ratimai Gandhi, married Indira Nehru, daughter of Jawahar Lal Nehru. After Independence, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of India, since then there is no looking back by the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.Since then we have three Prime Ministers from the same family viz. Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi.

Sonia Gandhi could have easily been the fourth of a family to reach the feat but for the clause in the constitution that does not allow a foriegn born to be the Prime Minister of India. Then there is another clan of the family, the charismatic Rahul Gandhi, son of Sonia Gandhi, who seems to have carved a niche for himself for the most precious post in India.

Now if I go back to my birth state, Jammu and kashmir, it has been completey dominated by one family since Independence, the Abdullah's. Omar Abdullah, recently elected Chief Minister, is the 3rd generation of Abdullah's being in power.

The same situation prevails in Orisa, where power was transferred from Biju Pataniak to his incumbent son Naveen Patnayak.

In Tamil Nadu, M Karunanidhi, is busy in getting best career opportuinities for his children. He bargained union ministry for his elder son, Azhagiri, in the current UPA government. And his younger son Mr. Stalin, is handling the post of deputy Chief Minister.

This trend seems spread across the country that is piolet's and Scindia's in Rajasthan,Lalu and Rabri in Bihar, Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla and sons in Madhya Pradesh, Devi Lal and his son O P Chautala in harayana, Sharad pawar and her daughter Supriya Sule in Maharashtra.

Jagjivan Ram and his daughter Meira Kumar, Charan Singh and his son Ajit Singh are others who show similar trend. Chandrababu naidu inherited from N T Rama Rao.

Love of our politicians for the power can be described in one line :

"Till death do us apart"