Bihar, a state long celebrated for its social movements, progressive campaigns, and political ferment, also stands as one of India’s most striking examples of dynastic politics. From the corridors of the Legislative Assembly to ministerial offices, political families dominate the landscape, influencing decisions, shaping party leadership, and often determining electoral outcomes. At the forefront of this phenomenon is the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), led by Lalu Prasad Yadav’s family, which has long relied on family networks to maintain political clout.

Family Rule Cuts Across Party Lines

While the RJD is the most prominent example of dynastic politics, other parties also exhibit substantial family representation. In the JD (U), ministers such as Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Maheshwar Hazari, Sheela Kumari, Sumit Kumar Singh, Sunil Kumar, and Jayant Raj all continue family legacies. In the BJP, leaders like Nitin Nabin and Amrendra Pratap Singh inherit political lineages.

Beyond the major parties, notable dynasts include Samrat Choudhary, son of Samata Party founder Shakuni Choudhary; Santosh Kumar Suman, son of ex-CM Jitan Ram Manjhi; and Rajvardhan Azad, son of ex-CM Bhagwat Jha Azad. Among the 23 chief ministers Bihar has had, seven families continue their political legacy in the current Assembly, including the Yadavs, Manjhi, Mishra, and Singh families.

RJD at the Helm of Hereditary Politics

The 2020 Bihar Assembly elections offer a clear window into the state’s dynastic dynamics. RJD emerged as the single largest party with 75 seats, and remarkably, over 42% of its MLAs hailed from political families. This pattern has persisted into the current Assembly. Among the outgoing 243-member legislature, 70 MLAs, or nearly 29%, belong to political families. Within this, the RJD leads the list with 30 dynasts among its 71 legislators, representing 42.25% — almost identical to the 2020 figure.

The JD (U), led by Nitish Kumar, has 16 dynasts among 44 MLAs,........

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