Patna: Nepotism once again emerged as a major talking point in the Bihar Assembly elections, with several parties—particularly within the NDA—fielding candidates from political families. Data from the results shows that a significant share of winners across the NDA and opposition belong to established political lineages, despite parties accusing one another of encouraging dynastic politics.
According to election records, both the BJP and JD(U) have 11 MLAs each who are relatives of political leaders. Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) recorded the highest concentration of such candidates, with 80% of its winning MLAs coming from political families. Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) also saw half of its winning candidates linked to political households.
Manjhi Family Dominates HAM (S) Candidates
Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s party fielded six candidates and won five seats, of which four winners came from political families. Three 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. Eleven of the winning MLAs (12.35%) come from political families, including Samrat Chaudhary, Nitish Mishra, and Shreyasi Singh.
Similarly, JD(U) won 85 of the 101 seats it contested, and 11 of those winners (12.9%) belong to political households. These names include Rituraj Kumar, Anant Singh, and Chetan Anand.
Upendra Kushwaha Fields Wife, Secures Two Family-linked Wins
RLM President and former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha fielded his wife, Snehlata, from Sasaram. She won the seat and entered the Assembly. He also fielded Alok Kumar Singh, brother of Nitish Kumar’s cabinet minister Santosh Singh, from Dinara. Singh won as well. Out of RLM’s four successful candidates, two come from political families.
Former MP Arun Kumar Secures Seats for Son and Nephew
Former Jehanabad MP Prof. Arun Kumar helped secure tickets for his son Rituraj Kumar (Ghoshi), his brother Anil Kumar (Tikari), and his nephew Romit Kumar (Attari). Rituraj and Romit won, while Anil Kumar lost.
LJP (R) Fields Brother of Rajan Tiwari
Chirag Paswan’s LJP (Ram Vilas) won 19 seats. Among its candidates was Raju Tiwari, brother of strongman Rajan Tiwari, from Govindganj.
20% of RJD MLAs Also Belong to Political Families
The RJD, which has often been targeted by the NDA over dynastic politics, also saw 20% of its winners come from political families. Among its 25 winning candidates, five belong to political lineages.
This includes 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 said that politics has increasingly become a profession, and parties continue to rely on family names for electoral advantage. “It has reached a point where it no longer matters to political parties. That’s why nepotism is so common this election,” he said.
Parties Trade Charges on Nepotism
Congress spokesperson Gyan Prakash accused the NDA of hypocrisy, saying, “They practice nepotism themselves and then blame the opposition. Statistics don’t lie. Many NDA MLAs won because of nepotism.” He added that Congress did not give a ticket to any leader’s relative.
Defending his party, BJP spokesperson Kuntal Krishna said, “No single family controls our party. If a second generation enters politics after years of work, it is out of public service. The BJP is not run like a family enterprise. Parties like the Congress and RJD revolve around one family.”
