Dynasty rules, seven MPs from political families

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 27

Punjab tops the ladder when it comes to dynastic politics. Going by the results of recent Lok Sabha elections, seven MPs, out of total 13, come from one or the other political family.

As per the available data, in the 17th Lok Sabha 30 per cent of the total MPs come from political families. However, in Punjab the ratio is above 50 per cent, which is almost double the national percentage.

In political parties-wise break-up, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) tops in the state when it comes to sending dynasts to Parliament. In terms of numbers, four out of eight MPs elected from the Congress ticket are related to the political families. Patiala MP Preneet Kaur is wife of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Jalandhar MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh is son of master Gurbanta Singh, who was famous Congress Dalit leader from Doaba. Khadoor Sahib MP Jasbir Singh Dimpa is son of Sant Singh Lidhar, who was two-time MLA from Beas and was shot dead by Khalistani militants in 1986. Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu is grandson of former Chief Minister Beant Singh.

Similarly, two MPs from Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Sukhbir Badal and Harsimrat Badal, are son and daughter-in-law, respectively, of former Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, who ruled the state for decades.

The BJP is also not much behind than other parties as out of its two MPs, Sunny Deol’s film star father Dharmendra was an MP from Bikaner and stepmother Hema Malini has been elected MP from Mathura on BJP ticket.

The AAP seems to be the only party in the state which has gone against the trend. It didn’t pay much heed to dynasties while giving ticket before the elections. Its sole MP Bhagwant Mann doesn’t have any political background.

The experts feel that the emergence of dynasties on Punjab’s political scenario is a post-Green Revolution phenomenon. Dr Pramod Kumar, Director, Institute for Development and Communication, Chandigarh, who is known for his work on Punjab politics, says in the post-Green Revolution phase agrarian elite came into existence which hegemonised money, means of production and political powers. These feudal lords have been dominating the politics for the past five decades. The outcome of the present election is also reflection of this phenomenon.

“Nationally politics is dominated by advocates, but in Punjab it is concentrated in the hands of the agrarian elite. Unfortunately it restricted the representation of other sectors, including industry, traders etc.”

But it is a common opinion among experts that it is not a healthy practice for any democracy. “It is unfortunate that even after seven decades of independence, we still witness political dynasties. The phenomenon can be witnessed even at the village level, where one or two families rule the village for decades. It indicates that all people don’t have equal opportunities to compete in electoral politics,” said Prof Jagdeep Chhokar, founder of the Association for Democratic Reforms.

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