File photo: NCP leader Ajit Pawar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have condemned dynastic politics in a speech in Haryana but a glance at the list of candidates for Maharashtra Assembly elections shows that dynasty finds a place in all major political parties. The BJP is no exception either.
The Nationalist Congress Party or NCP leads the way with former ministers Chhagan Bhujbal, Ganesh Naik and their sons contesting elections. NCP State President Sunil Tatkare's nephew, Avdhoot, the former state president's son Vaibhav Pichad and the state legislative council chairman's son Niranjan Davkhare are all fighting on NCP tickets.
In the Congress, former minister Narayan Rane and his son Nitesh are contesting from their home district of Sindhudurg.
In the Naxal-hit Gadchiroli district, the incumbent Dharmraobaba Atram and his wife Bhagyashree, are both candidates from the NCP.
However, the NCP insists dynasty was not a factor while selecting candidates.
"My nephew (Ajit Pawar) is contesting. This is his fifth election. He has completed 20 years and has won with a big majority every time. Don't you think there is acceptability? Unless there is work, unless there is acceptability, how can they keep getting elected again?" NCP Chief Sharad Pawar told NDTV.
"It's not just the NCP, other political parties too have found place for sons and relatives in their candidate lists," he added.
Congress MP and Former State Chief Minister Ashok Chavan's wife, Amita, is contesting from Bhokar, a constituency he used to represent. Congress State President Manikrao Thakre's son, Rahul, is also trying his luck from his father's constituency of Yavatmal.
Dynastic politics runs in the Shiv Sena too which has fielded Ajinkya Patil, son of Bihar Governor D Y Patil against former Chief Minister and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan from his hometown Karad. MP Gajanan Kirtikar's son Amit is a Shiv Sena candidate from Mumbai and in neighbouring Thane, MP Dr Shrikant Shinde's father, a sitting Member of Legislative Assmebly, is seeking re-election.
In the BJP, late Union minister Gopinath Munde's daughters Pritam and Pankaja too are contesting on BJP tickets for the Lok Sabha by-poll and Assembly elections respectively. In the tribal district of Nandurbar, where his daughter is now a BJP MP, former NCP minister Dr. Vijaykumar Gavit is fighting on a BJP ticket.
Like the NCP, the BJP too defended its decision.
"I think dynasty politics means if anybody, without any deserving qualities, is getting a ticket, it is wrong. But Pankaja, Heena Gavit, who are working for the people for the last 10-15 years, when they get a ticket, I think we should surely agree with that," said BJP leader Vinod Tawde.