Beyond legacy, towards power

Across southern and eastern India, upcoming Assembly elections place the spotlight on political heirs looking to translate legacy, governance and organisation into votes, analyses Shine Jacob

- Shine Jacob

In poll-bound Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and West Bengal, a new generation of leaders from influential political families is coming into clear view. Rather than merely inheriting high office, they are seeking to define themselves through governance and administrative delivery.

Among those drawing the closest attention are Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin; P A Mohammed Riyas, son-in-law of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan; Abhishek Banerjee, nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee; and Gaurav Gogoi, son of former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

Across southern India, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, several such political heirs have earned recognition from observers and colleagues not just for their lineage, but also for their performance in office. Take Tamil Nadu: Udhayanidhi was elevated as deputy chief minister only in September 2024 but his association with politics goes back decades. Senior Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leaders recall seeing him accompany his grandfather, the late M Karunanidhi, at political events as early as the 1989 Assembly elections.

His rise, however, did not come without criticism. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed his elevation as "one more son rise" in Tamil Nadu politics, while also attacking him over remarks calling for the "eradication ofSanatana Dharma". The principal Opposition, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), resorted to familiar barbs, branding him a "Prince".