Patna: The issue of nepotism prominently featured in the Bihar Assembly elections, with numerous parties, especially within the NDA, nominating candidates from political families. Election result data indicates that many winners from both the NDA and opposition belong to established political dynasties, despite mutual accusations of fostering dynastic politics. According to election records, both the BJP and JD(U) have 11 MLAs each who are relatives of political figures. Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) boasted the highest percentage of such candidates, with 80% of its victorious MLAs hailing from political families. Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) also had half of its winning candidates associated with political households.
Manjhi Family Dominates HAM (S) Candidates Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s party fielded six candidates and secured five seats, with four winners belonging to political families. Three of these winners are directly related to Manjhi—his daughter-in-law Deepa Kumari (Imamganj), sister-in-law Jyoti Devi (Barachatti), and son-in-law Prafull Manjhi (Sikandra). The fourth winner from the party, Romit Kumar, is the nephew of former MP Prof. Arun Kumar. 12% of BJP and JD(U) MLAs from Political Families The BJP contested 101 seats and won 89, with eleven of the successful MLAs (12.35%) stemming from political families, including Samrat Chaudhary, Nitish Mishra, and Shreyasi Singh.
The JD(U) won 85 of the 101 seats it contested, with 11 of those winners (12.9%) also belonging to political households, including Rituraj Kumar, Anant Singh, and Chetan Anand. Upendra Kushwaha Fields Wife, Secures Two Family-linked Wins RLM President and former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha nominated his wife, Snehlata, from Sasaram, who won and entered the Assembly. He also nominated Alok Kumar Singh, brother of Nitish Kumar’s cabinet minister Santosh Singh, from Dinara, who also won. Among RLM’s four successful candidates, two are linked to political families. Former MP Arun Kumar Secures Seats for Son and Nephew Former Jehanabad MP Prof.
Arun Kumar assisted in securing tickets for his son Rituraj Kumar (Ghoshi), his brother Anil Kumar (Tikari), and his nephew Romit Kumar (Attari). Rituraj and Romit achieved victory, while Anil Kumar was unsuccessful. LJP (R) Fields Brother of Rajan Tiwari Chirag Paswan’s LJP (Ram Vilas) won 19 seats, including candidate Raju Tiwari, the brother of powerful figure Rajan Tiwari, from Govindganj. 20% of RJD MLAs Also Belong to Political Families The RJD, frequently criticized by the NDA over nepotism, also saw 20% of its winners come from political families.
Among its 25 successful candidates, five are from political lineages, including party chief Tejashwi Yadav (son of Lalu Prasad Yadav), Osama Shahab (son of Mohammad Shahabuddin), Karishma Rai (granddaughter of former CM Daroga Rai), Rahul Kumar (son of ex-minister Jagdish Sharma), and Kumar Sarvjeet (son of former MP Rajesh Kumar). Experts Say Nepotism “Here to Stay” Senior journalist Rakesh Praveer remarked that politics has increasingly become a profession, with parties relying on family names for electoral gains. “It has reached a point where it no longer matters to political parties. That’s why nepotism is so prevalent this election,” he stated.
Parties Trade Charges on Nepotism Congress spokesperson Gyan Prakash accused the NDA of hypocrisy, asserting, “They practice nepotism themselves and then blame the opposition. Statistics don’t lie. Many NDA MLAs won due to nepotism.” He added that Congress did not award any tickets to relatives of leaders. In defense of his party, BJP spokesperson Kuntal Krishna remarked, “No single family controls our party. If a second generation enters politics after years of service, it is for public interest. The BJP is not operated like a family business. Parties such as Congress and RJD are centered around one family.
