Dynastic politics ..a grave threat: Shashi Tharoor
His article on 'Indian Politics Are a Family Business', highlighted the importance of the Nehru-Gandhi family as a towering dynasty that dominated Indian politics.
Congress has countered him officially.
“A doctor’s son becomes a doctor, a businessman’s child continues in business, and politics is no exception. Also, if a politician has a criminal background, it reflects the reality of our society,” Congress leader Udit Raj said.
Let us break these into parts. Tharoor says: the practice of dynastic polity has "cemented the idea that political leadership can be a birthright. This idea has penetrated Indian politics across every party, in every region, and at every level".
The Congress MP -- importantly in the run up to the polls in Kerala - cited examples such as Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who took over the Biju Janata Dal after his father’s demise; Uddhav Thackeray, who succeeded Balasaheb Thackeray; and Aditya Thackeray, who is rising through the ranks of the Shiv Sena (UBT).
The article also mentioned parties such as the Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and Shiromani Akali Dal.
The piece sparked reactions within the Congress itself. Dismissing Tharoor’s criticism, Congress leader Udit Raj argued that dynastic tendencies exist across all walks of Indian life.
“Election tickets are often distributed along caste and family lines. From Nehru to Pawar, DMK to Mamata, Mayawati to Amit Shah’s son, there are many such examples. The loss is that opportunities remain confined to families alone.
Dynastic influence is not limited to politics; it extends to the bureaucracy, judiciary, and even the film industry,” Congress leader Udit Raj says.
This is something we cannot agree more. In Bollywood, dynastic polity is also given a 'sweet' word of nepotism. These are also essentially Indian characteristics linked to 'jugaadu culture'. A good MLA can be a good uncle -- only when he helps his uncle and his uncle's corrupt children to do get job or get huge-funds contracts.
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In the present Lok Sabha bro-sis duo of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra are MPs often sermonizing the rest of Indians about meritocracy. And if they are unable to do much for Indian democracy - mom Sonia Gandhi is doing the rest in the Rajya Sabha. The retirement formula also does not apply.
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But there are other tales of dynasty as well. Abhishek Bachchan would not have got a career in Bollywood without his parents in the industry. We would have been spared of 'so called acting' of Kareena Kapoor.
There are numerous others. Karan Johar could have been a jobless or a clerk in the department of Sanitation in Port Blair. Tushar Kapoor could have been somewhere in Chandni Chowk doing Paratha business.
But rules also change ...
Come to politics and in Nagaland -- Neiphiu Rio has ensured that his brother Zaleo also is a legislator.
However, 'Northern Angami-2' charm is very powerful. Late Nungshizemba's children are on his side. Their 'uncle' S C Jamir and cousn Apok are leaking wounds. In fact, it is they who ensured Jamir should lose in the by-election in Mokokchung.
During S C Jamir's stint; he allowed Imtisungeet (Dimapur -2 MLA) to be minister always. Once 'Sunday' magazine from Kolkata carried a controversial article too.
If not dynasty; regioalist doyen Vamuzo played his brother-in-law Thenucho card to ensure stability for a while but at the cost of membership of 15 MLAs.
In Meghalaya. son of Late Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma -- Conrad Sangma is leading NPP and is chief minister who is expected to be in alliance with the BJP but stop the growth of saffron party in the entire north east.
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| "You are short... be in the middle" S C Jamir told blogger: His son Apok dutifully smiled |
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"When political power is determined by lineage rather than ability, commitment or grassroots engagement, the quality of governance suffers. Drawing from a smaller talent pool is never advantageous, but it is especially problematic when candidates' main qualification is their surname,” Shashi Tharoor said in his article called 'Indian Politics Are a Family Business' in Project Syndicate.
"It is high time India traded dynasty for meritocracy. This would require fundamental reforms, from imposing legally mandated term limits to requiring meaningful internal party elections, together with a concerted effort to educate and empower the electorate to choose leaders based on merit", Tharoor says.
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In Nagaland yet again, former veterans Hokishe Sema or J B Jasokie family did not come up in politics.
Riato Jasokie Zinyu (our friend and a local Editor) did understand nity-gritty of politics very well. But hated it too.
Once at a press conference - K L Chishi introduced Riato to Jamir as "our Jasokie's son". Riato's reaction was - "chhaa ... why this yaar". And Riato later pulled me up because I had requested him to attend the press conference.
It was a few days before the much controversial Superannuation Bill was to be passed. The Vamuzo Govt 'misguided' by a students' agitation had brought down the retirement bar to 57 years of age or 33 years of service whichever came earlier.
The Congress was planning to boycott the session. But there was a dilemma. It was the first session of the Nagaland assembly after Rajiv Gandhi's death and they could not stay away from the customary obit reference.
The 'dynasty' word was not so bad in Indian politics yet.
Among Naga leaders yet again - former chief minister T N Angami's son N T Nakhro became a legislator and minister representing the prestigious Western Angami constituency. He was of course defeated by Independent Asu Keyho in 1998. Prior to that in a by-election; N T Nakhro ( also husband of a former All India Radio senior colleague) did an unthinkable.
He 'snatched' a traditional regional bastion from the regionalists for the Congress.
But 'family business' was at play as his brother-in-law Lelie Legisie (a journalist) had contested on a DLP ticket. NPC candidate was Ahulie Iralu, also a relative of Vamuzo.
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ends
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