Dynasts dominate candidate lists across parties

Two sons of a former Union minister pitted against each other, a husband and a wife contesting from neighbouring constituencies (from the same party), and several members of a family contesting from one party —all reflect the influence of powerful political families in Bihar.

- Arun Kumar

In all, about a fifth of the candidates from the main political parties in the fray are from the political families, according to an analysis of candidate lists announced by political parties.

Around a third of the tickets allocated by the main opposition party Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) are to dynasts and over half of the tickets issued by Jiten Ram Manjhi's Hindustan Awam Morcha -Secular (HAMS), part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), have gone to his own family. Around 18% of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) 101 candidates are dynasts, as are 17% of partner Janata Dal - United's (JD-U) 101.