Celebrations in Delhi as the results of the elections came in. PTI
Dynastic politics is flourishing across the board and the country got more than a glimpse of it during the just-concluded assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana.
Cutting across party lines, over half-a-dozen families had joined the election fray. In most cases, the younger generation sailed through - perhaps showing thereby the beginnings of a new trend.
Among prominent winners was BJP's Pankaja Munde - daughter of the late Gopinath Munde, the BJP's tallest leader in Maharashtra. Pankaja won from Parli - her journey made easier by the Shiv Sena, which did not field a candidate against her out of respect for her father.
The first family of the NCP was out too -- Mr Pawar's nephew, former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar won by over a whopping 1.35 lakh votes from Baramati. Mr Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule is a Member of Parliament.
The Bhujbals, father and son, both won. While senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal was contesting from Yevla, his son Pankaj won from Nandgaon.
Sandeep Naik, son of veteran NCP leader Ganesh Naik, won from Airoli, even though his father, a veteran politician himself, lost.
Praniti Shinde, daughter of former Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Amit Deshmukh, son of late former Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh have both held on to their seats in Solapur and Latur.
Nitesh Rane, son of senior Congress leader Narayan Rane, won from Kankavli - a seat his father gave up for him.
NCP import and former minister Dr Vijaykumar Gavit won from Nandurbar on a BJP ticket. Five months ago, his daughter Heena had created history by wresting this tribal Congress bastion for the BJP.
In Haryana, two generations of the Chautalas were in fray. While 79-year-old INLD chief OP Chautala had to go back to jail on October 11 after he was caught campaigning while out on bail on medical grounds, his son and grandson contested.
But their fortunes were mixed. While Mr Chautala's son Abhay Singh Chautala won from Ellenabad, his grandson, INLD parliamentarian Dushyant Chautala, bit the dust from Uchana Kalan.
Bhajan Lal's son and Haryana Janhit Party leader Kuldeep Bishnoi won from Adampur.