Bihar’s political arena is, once again, largely shaped by family ties. A significant portion of the candidates vying for seats in the upcoming assembly elections are direct relatives – sons, daughters, wives, or close kin – of long-standing political figures.
Political analysts emphasize that this isn’t a phenomenon exclusive to any single party; virtually every political group in Bihar has embraced dynastic candidacies.
The 243-member Bihar Assembly elections are scheduled to unfold in two phases on November 6 and 11, with the eagerly awaited results to be declared on November 14.
Among the prominent faces in the electoral race, many carry a well-known family name. These include RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, the younger son and apparent successor of party patriarch Lalu Prasad, contesting from Raghopur. From the BJP, Samrat Choudhary, son of former Minister Shakuni Choudhary, is standing in Tarapur. RJD also fields Osama Shahab, son of the late politician Mohammad Shahabuddin, from Raghunathpur.
The list continues with Rashtriya Lok Morcha’s Snehlata, wife of party chief Upendra Kushwaha, from Sasaram; BJP’s Nitish Mishra, son of former Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra, from Jhanjharpur; and HAM’s Deepa Manjhi, daughter-in-law of Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, from Imamganj. Jan Suraaj presents Jagriti Thakur, granddaughter of the esteemed socialist leader Karpoori Thakur, in Morwa. Additionally, Chanakya Prasad Ranjan, son of JD(U) Banka MP Girdhari Prasad Yadav, is contesting as an RJD candidate from Belhar.
Further examples include JD(U)’s Komal Singh, daughter of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) MP Veena Devi, running from Gaighat; JD(U)’s Chetan Anand, son of party MP Lovely Anand, from Nabinagar; Nitin Nabin, son of the late BJP leader Nabin Kishore Sinha, from Bankipore; Sanjeev Churasai, son of BJP leader Ganga Prasad Chaurasia, from Digha; and Rahul Tiwary, son of RJD veteran Shivanand Tiwary, from Shahpur.
Other notable candidates include Rakesh Ojha, son of the late BJP leader Visheshwar Ojha, from Shahpur; Veena Devi, wife of Surajbhan Singh (who recently joined RJD), from Mokama; and Shivani Shukla, daughter of RJD strongman Munna Shukla, from Lalganj.
The Public’s Political Awareness: A Key Factor
Commenting on this pervasive trend, Vidyarthi Vikas, an Assistant Professor of Economics at A. N. Sinha Institute of Social Studies in Patna, expressed concern. He noted that the widespread entry of dynasts into politics suggests that parties are increasingly prioritizing pragmatic gains over ideological commitments, constitutional values, and core democratic principles.
Mr. Vikas urged the public to challenge dynastic candidacies, which he believes often stem from inherited political standing rather than merit. He also pointed to a deeper issue: the consistent lack of priority given to education in Bihar over the past 77 years. He reiterated that no political party in the state can genuinely claim to be free from this dynastic influence.
He further elaborated that the rural population in Bihar has a notably low education level, citing a recent caste survey which revealed that only 14.71% have completed class 10. This lack of political awareness among less-educated voters, he argued, is exploited by political parties, enabling dynastic candidates to easily secure positions.
Creating an Uneven Playing Field
Mrityunjay Tiwary, the RJD state unit spokesperson, acknowledged the stark reality: “A common party worker can hardly dream of contesting elections today.” He added that ordinary party members are often overlooked in an electoral landscape where “glamour has become an intrinsic part of every Indian election.”
Mr. Tiwary also pointed out that the unrestrained spending by candidates and political parties has created a highly unequal playing field, making it difficult for those without substantial financial backing.
In response, Bihar BJP spokesperson Niraj Kumar asserted that his party “gives importance only to those leaders and workers who have demonstrated strong organizational work and are competent and committed to ‘jan seva’ (serving the people).”
He further highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a prime example, noting, “Our PM comes from a very simple background and has worked at every level of the party’s organization,” implying a merit-based approach.