It’s all in the family

Analysis by The Hindu shows that at least 130 of our MPs are from political families

At least one quarter of MPswho took oath in elected to the 16th Lok Sabha last week are from political families, The Hindu ’s analysis of family background of new MPs shows.

This tendency towards hereditary politics is particularly sharp among younger MPs.

Among the major political parties, the Samajwadi Party is now a 100 per cent family-ruled party; all five of its MPs are relatives of party chief Mulayam Singh.

The Telugu Desam Party comes next with 44 per cent of its MPs being close relatives of politicians.

The Congress, led by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi who are both members of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, follows closely behind as does the Biju Janata Dal.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Khajagam has the lowest proportion of hereditary politicians; just two of its new MPs are the sons of MLAs.