Breeding of family Politicians: Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Democracy to hereditary – a great reformation in Indian politics

Living examples of degeneration of democracy

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Neither Late Mohammad Razab Ali of the Communist Party of India nor Late Kattula Shantayya of the erstwhile Indian National Congress, the first two MLA s whom I had known while I was still a student in Khammam, brought any of their relatives in to politics. It was not the case with everyone. Jalagam Vengala Rao when vacated Khammam Jillaa Parisht Chairman Position or Parliament seat, it was only in favor of his brother Kondala Rao. Later he brought his son Prasada Rao in to politics followed by another son. This is not an isolated phenomenon in Indian Politics. Nor this is limited to only Congress Party alone. Family members of top political leaders take over the reign of the party early in life. They are groomed by the first generation politicians and are launched into the political scene by well planned strategic media campaign.

Democratic politics in India have become hereditary. Democracy itself has become hereditary. The lead given by Nehru-Gandhi family in National Politics has been very well taken by many in several states. Examples of Indian Hereditary Politicians are plenty. To quote from the recent past, several candidates in the race during the last general elections are just enough to mention a cross section of the cream of such gifted few. Congress contestant from Mumbai South Milind Deora is the son of Murli Deora Union Minister. Priya Dutt daughter of Sunil Dutt, Sameer Bhujbal nephew of Chhagan Bhujbal, Bhaskarrao Patil son-in-law of former chief minister SB Chavan and brother-in-law of Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan, Mukul Wasnik son of former AICC general secretary, Vijay Bahuguna son of former UP CM HN Bahuguna and brother of current UPCC chief Rita Bahuguna as well as first cousin of UK Chief Minister B C Khanduri and YS Jagan Mohan son of the then AP CM Rajashekhara Reddy are only few more examples. In fact three Assembly tickets and one MP ticket was allotted to one single family of a Minister in AP, Botcha Satyanarayana. Not only did he win from an Assembly constituency, his wife Jhansi Lakshmi won the Lok Sabha, his brother Appalanarasiah won from Gajapartinagaram and nephew Appalanaidu won from Nellimarla Assembly seats.

Sheila Dixit, the CM of Delhi for over a decade, who herself was a product of hereditary politics being the family member of Umashankar Dikshit, former Union Cabinet Minister, has already brought her son Sandeep Dikshit in to politics and made him a Member of Parliament from East Delhi Constituency. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, CM of Haryana and four times parliament member from the state has brought his son Deependar Singh Hooda in to politics. He is now a Member of Parliament. Chaudhari Devi Lal, Hooda predecessor, also made his son Om Prakash Choutala as Haryana CM once. SP Leader Mulayam Sing Yadav family members are the key people in UP politics. His son Akhilesh Yadav won from two constituencies in last Loksabha elections. When he vacated a seat it was given to none other than the daughter in law of the family and she lost the election.

While Nehru-Gandhi family future heir in waiting Rahul Gandhi and his mother contested as Congress candidates, his cousin late Sanjay Gandhi’s son Varun Gandhi and Aunt Maneka Gandhi contested as BJP candidates. Dip Gogoi younger brother of CM Orissaa Tarun Gogoi, Manish Tewari, Ravneet Singh Bittu, Kumari Selja and Jyoti Mirdha granddaughter of Nathuram Mirdha are few more in the hereditary row. Congress national leader Motilal Vora’s son, former Union Minister Arvind Netam’s daughter, another leader Ajit Jogi wife is among them. In Rajasthan, Jagannath Pahadia, Sis Ram Ola, Nawal Kishore Sharma, Govind Singh Gurjar managed tickets for their sons in the last elections. While the Gandhis are regarded as India’s First Family, the regional lords have nurtured their ‘dynasties’ with loving care in their own arena.

The hereditary politics are not limited to congress alone. NCP supremo Sharad Pawar daughter Supriya Sule, Karnataka CM Yeddyurappa’s elder son Raghavendra, former PM Devegouda’s son H D Kumaraswamy of JD-S, Tamil Nadu CM Karunanidhi son M K Azhagiri, Murasoli Maran’s son Dayanidhi, former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma’s daughter Agatha are some of the non-congress heirs. Kanimozhi, Karunanidhi daughter is a Rajya Sabha member while his other son Stalin is the CM in waiting. In Jammu and Kashmir, Late Sheik Abdullah son Farooq Abdullah has already made his son Omar as CM. PDP’s Mufti and daughter Mehbooba play musical chairs with Omar to sit on the State throne. In Andhra, TDP supremo is busy grooming his brothers-in-laws, while his son is also in waiting list. In Maharashtra the Thackeray and the Pawar clans compete for power. Then we have progenies of Karunakaran, Bahuguna, Nandini Satpathy and Jagivan Ram. RJD Chief Laloo’s Rabri, JMM’s Mahato and widow of former Gujarat CM Chimanbhai Patel are best better half examples.

Political power moves from one generation to another. The hereditary politics are ruining the country’s future. In Dynastic politics known to Indians from time immemorial, kings and emperors groom their sons and daughters to ascend the throne. Innocent Indian citizen who may not understand the basic concept of democracy think that such hereditary succession to the throne is nothing unusual or unethical and hence what has been happening in politics is right. Right from the local self government to the national level, political dynasties are everywhere enjoying the fruits of power and prestige. Once patriarch succeeds in attaining political power, he lets his near and dear ones to come in the line, so that the power would not go outside the family lineage. The king maker parent and the emerging dynasties ensure that the door to the top slot is available to none but to the family members alone.

Political parties in India are close family structures that breed corruption. They ensure that no outsider of the family and insider in the party dares voice dissent. The control of political parties by families inevitably lead to several undesirable consequences, such as money power, muscle power and caste factors playing in the electoral process. Citizens who are more talented and have more enthusiasm to work for the public cause but with less family background, find it hard to compete in the elections, let alone make it to the assemblies and parliament. If this present trend of continues, Indian democracy will cease to be participatory and it will cease to be a way of empowering people.

Political competence neither comes by conventional education alone, nor by mere acquaintance or association or heritage as well. A competent political leader’s wife, son or daughter need not be equally competent. It can be welcomed, if political heirs are capable enough to provide quality leadership to the country but the overall experience shows that under the control of families over political power, the institution of democracy is ridiculed. It is an insult to the concept of democracy. It would not be possible to undo the political dynasties in Indian democracy without changing this mindset. Politics in India is a business and a family business too. If the present scenario is allowed to continue, each state will become “a princely state” ruled by the dynasties of political leaders who promote their own kith and kin. Even the regional heavyweights RJD, Samajwadi, DMK, National Conference, PDP, Shiv Sena, Akali Dal, Telugu Desam, believe in brothers, sisters, in-laws, out-laws, sons, daughters, son in-laws and daughter in-laws.

Distressingly, the original promoter of this ancestry culture is none other than the Congress. Jawaharlal Nehru stepping in to the shoes of his father Motilal as AICC President before independence set the ball rolling and calculatedly laid the foundation of dynastic rule. He groomed daughter Indira, who in turn promoted Sanjay and later Rajiv. Just before and soon after the Emergency, Sanjay Gandhi rose in importance as Indira's advisor. Sanjay's influence with Indira and the government increased dramatically, although he was never in an official or elected position. Indira Gandhi and her Congress Party that was defeated by the Janata Party coalition returned to power in a landslide. Sanjay was elected to a parliamentary seat from Amethi in UP. Unfortunately he died in an accident. The rest is history. Rajiv was made PM and party leader. The lineage continued even after his death, though delayed for a while with Sonia occupying the uncrowned throne. On the way is now Rahul. Encouraged by this many have calculatedly promoted their wards. Kairon to Karunanidhi, Pant to Parmar, Devi Lal to Bhajan Lal, Charan Singh to Arjun Singh, Biju Patnaik to Deve Gowda, a never ending lineage.

No doubt democracy is the best form of governance. India is the largest democracy in the world. However Indian politicians, in their bid to remain in power permanently, have converted 'democracy' into 'hereditary democracy'. Conscious attempts are being made by the politicians, who are at the helm of affairs or holding power, to transfer power legitimately to their wards ignoring or simply overlooking the claim of other senior politicians in the same party, thereby making the existing party system as well as the democracy a laughing stock in the world. In the process, the party leaders show utter disregard for their loyal party men, their seniority, experience or even their talent or ability and all of them are being made subservient to the interests of their wards.

In India, probably with no exception, in almost all the national and regional parties, this tendency of promoting the wards in party politics prevail. Few of the wards of the political leaders have the requisite political background and exposure to enter politics on their own right. However, the most disturbing factor is with the blessing and support of the party leadership, they easily come to the forefront of party politics making other senior party men to suffer in silence.

The degeneration of democracy into 'hereditary democracy' is certainly a retrograde step in the evolution of democracy. In order to prevent such disturbing trends in democracy in India, something constructively needs to be done. If it cannot be prevented, then, the hereditary democracy too may deteriorate further, making the party system a casualty, posing a very big threat to very existence of democracy.

The living examples of degeneration of democracy, if it can be called so, are plenty in Andhra Pradesh. Barring Boorgula Ramakrishna Rao, Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy and Bezavada Gopalaredy the first three Chief Ministers in this part of the country rest all helped their family members gaining political advantage and occupying important political positions. Brahmananda Reddy brought kasu Krishna Reddy; PV Narasimha Rao his two sons, one brother-in-law and couple of other cousins; Jalagam Vengala Rao his brother, both the sons; Marri Channa Reddy his son; Anjayya his wife; Bhavanam his wife; N Janardhan Reddy his wife; Kotla his son Surya Prakasha Reddy and of course Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy his brother and his son Jagan. Nadendla Bhaskara Rao’s son Manohar is already an MLA. NTR son, son-in-law is already in politics. His daughter is Union Minister. One son-in-law Chandrababu Naidu, on shifting party loyalties could become CM and his son is being groomed now. Telangana Rashtra Samithi Leader’s son, nephew are in to politics. Daughter is in waiting list. There are many more MPs, MLA s and ZP Chairmen who successfully put their kith and kin in active politics like PCC Chief D Srinivas and Minister Kanna Laxminarayana.

Interestingly Present Chief Minister Rosaiah is an exception on the lines of Neelam, Bezavada and Boorgula! On this count he needs to be congratulated.

Indian National Congress from Alan Octavian Hume to Sonia Gandhi : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Rewarded Congress Rebels!

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

If it was Alan Octavian Hume, a civil servant in British India and a political reformer, who with the blessings of the Viceroy Lord Dufferin, to be credited for the birth of Indian National Congress, then it is Sonia Gandhi an Italian born Indian politician to be credited for not only reviving congress but also for returning it back to power. PV Narasimha Rao, who succeeded former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi after his assassination as Congress President headed a minority government after 1991 parliament elections. Though he converted the minority government in to majority, through sheer intelligence and political tactics, the congress fortunes dwindled and it lost elections in 1996. PV resigned first as party president and later as parliamentary party leader in favor of veteran Sitaram Kesri.

Several senior party stalwarts were in open revolt against Sitaram Kesri and quit the party, splitting into many factions. At that critical juncture on “popular party functionaries” demand Sonia Gandhi joined Congress as “Primary Member” and within two months she “accepted when offered” the party President Post despite her nationality was questioned. She remained the unquestionable leader for a record period of over 12 years as President and revived the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. Her decision and consensus in the party are synonyms!

History of 125 year old Indian National Congress is the history for supremacy between “Loyalists” and “Opponents” of Nehru-Gandhi family. Morarji Desai, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, Chandrasekhar, Inder Kumar Gujral, would have remained as “Loyalists” to Nehru-Gandhi family and would have continued in the Congress led cabinets led by one of the heirs of that dynasty like a Pranab Mukherjee or a Ghulam Nabi Azad or an Ambika Soni or any one like them, had they not rebelled and left Indian National Congress of their times. They rebelled and were rewarded with Prime Ministerial berths. Jagjivan Ram revolted and could become Deputy Prime Minister. Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy would not have become President of India had he remained in Congress Party. Such of those leaders like Sharad Pawar, Mamata Benerjee, Karunakaran though rebelled and left the party, however, could not reach the peak, though they were rewarded with positions short of their expectations.

Rocking its own ship has been the culture of the Congressmen right from its inception more than 125 years ago. Perhaps, being the grand old party in Indian politics and also for its exceptional role being in the forefront during the freedom struggle dissidence and rebellion has been an in-built mechanism. It was but natural that the clashes of interests within the Congress were primarily confined and rotated round pro and anti Nehru-Gandhi clan! Beginning with Motilal Nehru, successive members of the family at one time or other rebelled against the then existing Congress Leadership or policies not liked by them and in the process regained strong hold and command over the party to become more powerful and indispensable.

Motilal Nehru was the founder patriarch of powerful political Nehru-Gandhi family. Having served twice as President of Indian National Congress, Motilal handed over the party presidency to his London educated son Jawaharlal Nehru who entered politics just a decade ago. For Nehru family members and admirers it was a transfer of power and laying foundation for the future Prime Ministerial berth. Mahatma Gandhi’s support, then and later, always remained with Nehru family and as long as he lived, everyone who opposed Jawaharlal were reduced to minority in the party! Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose, Tandon and Pattabhi Seetaaramayya were among them. After Independence Nehru’s supremacy show over Acharya Kripalani and his frequent questioning Nehru’s decisions were also rebellion within. Gaining supremacy within Congress had a typical Nehru-Gandhi style like in the case of Jawaharlal opposing his father’s preference for Dominion Status. While he remained in the party Motilal helped found the Swaraj Party. The family which produced three Prime Ministers and the fourth one in the waiting controlled Congress President for four decades and as many as twenty five times. Mrs. Sonia Gandhi leads the current Congress coalition government in India as the coalition’s Chair Person and as President of All India Congress Committee. Her son Rahul Gandhi is a powerful Member of Parliament and General Secretary of Congress Party.

Such skirmishes became more pungent leading to split in the Congress party not once, but twice when Indira Gandhi took over the reins as party chief as well as Prime Minister later. Conspiracies were always hatched either to challenge the Nehru-Gandhi legacy time and again or orchestrated by the family members when they smelt that they are being challenged. The like minded syndicate leaders like Kamaraj-Nijalingappa-Morarji Desai-Sanjeevareddy-SK Patil, either in combination or on their own caused the split in the party challenging none other than ‘iron lady’ Indira Gandhi, well known to Indian people. However, she managed to be triumphant overcoming all the hurdles put before, yet again due to her envious links to Nehru clan and unprecedented public image she enjoyed. History may even put it the other way, that, it was Indira who forced the split to do away with her opponents.

After her demise, her elder son Rajiv Gandhi, who took over the reins amidst turbulent times, too was a victim of similar conspiracies. Unlike his mother, who was known for her political maneuverings, Rajiv though new to Indian politics yet managed to survive turbulent times due to a strong coterie which vowed unstinted allegiance to his family to protect their interests. Vishwanath Pratap Singh, on the issue of Bofors walked out from the party and succeeded Rajiv as Prime Minister. Sonia Gandhi was not willing to take over the mantle, perhaps due to her inability to overcome that ghastly incident in which her husband was killed. She was also equally reluctant to oblige those Nehru-Gandhi family loyalists request to allow her young son, Rahul to take over the mantle.

Ironically, following the tragic Rajiv assassination, though reluctantly, the Congressmen hurriedly accepted P V Narasimha Rao to head the party signaling his chances of becoming Prime Minister if the party fares well in the general elections that were half-way-through. PV was also commonly referred to as the Chanakya of modern India for his ability to steer tough economic and political legislation through the parliament at a time when he headed a minority government. Being the AICC President, he was a rebel from within, and silently challenged the supremacy of Nehru-Gandhi family represented by Madam Sonia Gandhi. When the Indian National Congress split in 1969 Rao stayed on the side of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and remained loyal to her during the Emergency period. He was also loyal and advisor to Rajiv Gandhi, though, was not trusted follower of Sonia Gandhi. He also broke convention by appointing a non-political economist and future prime minister, Manmohan Singh as his finance minister, who was the one and only choice of Sonia Gandhi to nominate as Congress parliamentary leader when she had to “sacrifice” left with no alternate. PV’s five year tenure witnessed many political upheavals within the party, with frequent clashes between pro and anti Gandhi-Nehru family’s dynastic rule.

PV paid for his doubted loyalty to Sonia and had to shed party chief’s post after Congress faced defeat in the 1996 elections to another senior Congress leader Sitaram Kesri. To prove his loyalty to Sonia and return the reward, Kesari forced PV to resign as Congress Parliamentary Party Leader. Sharad Pawar challenged Sitaram Kesri, the then nominee of Sonia, for the post of Congress President, and was unsuccessful.

Meanwhile pressure on Sonia increased from “Fundamental Loyalists” to take over party leadership and save from collapse putting the blame on PV. Kesari was unceremoniously pushed out and in 1998 Sonia, another Nehru-Gandhi family member sat on the Congress throne. Since then Sonia is heading the party and now all set to enter into record books of the party for holding the Chief’s post for more than a decade, uninterruptedly. In all, the Nehru-Gandhi family, held the record of holding party presidents’ post for more than 25 times and for nearly 40 years in its 125-year-old history.

Incidentally, even Sonia had to face anti Gandhi-Nehru group’s ire when party was set to win the 2004 polls. Pawar who served as Leader of Opposition in the dissolved 12^th Lok Sabha demanded that the Congress Party needed to project someone born in India as the Prime Ministerial candidate and not the Italian-born Sonia Gandhi. He, supported by former Lok Sabha Speaker Sangma raised a banner of revolt on her nationality and formed Nationalist Congress Party. Unperturbed Sonia, instead, tactfully managed her ‘foreign nationality’ issue more bravely by naming an able administrator like Dr Manmohan Singh as Prime Ministerial candidate. Pranab Kumar Mukherjee who was the Finance Minister when Manmohan Singh was made Governor of Reserve Bank of India and in a way in higher position than him had no option except to settle as cabinet minister in his cabinet. After all in politics one has to wait for his or her chance to reach the “peak”. His ambition to become PM is still alive!

Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party had to align with the Congress party to form a coalition government in Maharashtra. The alliance has endured at the national and state level to this day. After 2004 Lok Sabha elections, he joined the United Progressive Alliance government. His ambition to become PM is still alive!

But, now with Sonia’s plans of nourishing and making her son Rahul to succeed Dr Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister and support Manmohan’s candidature for President of India when it falls vacant, “Aspirants” to occupy them are silently becoming active once again. Plans to checkmate the dynastic rule at the Centre bringing on to the surface similar moves in the states, are now being intensified. Curtailing the claims of Congress Party MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy who to succeed his father as his political heir could be a bigger plan. Jagan might have a got a “secret green signal” from anti Nehru-Gandhi Family “Sonia Loyalists”!

Sonia probably is aware of these moves. She has her own plans to counter the moves against her in atypical Indira way. May be she has found a tool in Jagan to overhaul the Indian National Congress at all levels and fill the posts with “Staunch Loyalists”. How and when she will wriggle out of the prevailing situation is anybody’s guess. The party is passing through difficult times and her final decision to succumb to those who opposed to dynastic rule may force her to prefer yet another virtual split in the century old party.

The split looks like imminent, if not irresistible either way! Is it going to be Indian National Congress (S) or Indian National Congress (R).