The elections this time has been primarily between the ideology of the BJP led NDA and the dynast ideology of the Congress led UPA, in other words, between the ‘naamdars’ and the ‘kaamdars’. Though, according to the election trends, BJP is sweeping the country, garnering the majority votes is mostly every state, a closer look at the dynasties portray how exactly the ‘naamdars’ in the opposition are filing in the shoes of their ancestors.
Jyotiraditya Scindia- Guna
Jyotiraditya Scindia, contesting from Guna in Madhya Pradesh, is the oldest dynast in the party, even older than the President Rahul Gandhi, something to be proud of within the Congress clan. His ancestors had ruled over the state during princely India and had been the very dynasty who had abandoned the kingdom to save their lives.
Having retained the constituency since the past many decades, the latest trends indicate that Jyotiraditya Scindia is now losing the constituency as he is trailing behind BJP’s Krishna Pal Singh from 40,000 votes.
Rahul Gandhi- Amethi
Rahul Gandhi is contesting from Amethi, his family bastion and Wayanad, a new constituency with a minority vote base. Amethis has been in the family for decades, represented by mostly all the Gandhis.
This time, Rahul Gandhi is trailing behind BJP’ Smriti Irani, with Irani garnering 51% of the vote share, leading by 11,000 votes.
Milind Deora- Mumbai South
Son of Late Murli Deora, a Congress leader, Milind Deora is contesting from Mumbai South seat, a seat he had previously won in 2004 and 2009 elections. He is trailing behind Arvind Sawant of NDA candidate Shiv Sena by over 25,000 votes. Sawant is the same candidate who had defeated him in the 2014 elections.
Vaibhav Gehlot- Jodhpur
CM Ashok Gehlot had neglected the entire state of Rajasthan to focus his campaigning attention on Jodhpur, the constituency from which his son Vaibhav Gehlot is contesting.
He is trailing behind BJP candidate Gajendra Singh Shekhawat by over 1 lakh votes.
Parth Pawar- Maval
NCP leader Sharad Pawar broke away from Congress but hasn’t left the party ideology of favouring dynasts. His family member Parth Pawar has been fielded from Maval in Maharashtra.
Parth Pawar is trailing behind NDA candidate Shrirang Barne by over 1 lakh votes.
Priya Dutt- Mumbai North Central
Congress candidate from Mumbai North-Central, she is the daughter of late Sunil Dutt, a Congress leader.
Priya Dutt is trailing behind BJP’s Poonam Mahajan by over 34,000 votes.
Jitin Prasad- Dhaurahra
Son of the previous Congress leader late Jitendra Prasada, Jitin Prasad has been fielded from Dhaurahra.
Thoroughly embarrassing the dynasty, Jitin Prasada is trailing behind not one but two candidates in the constituency. BJP candidate Rekha Verma is leading with 47% vote share and BSP candidate Arshad Iliyas Siddiqui is trailing behind with 35% vote share. Jitin Prasada is trailing further behind with 14% vote share.
Nikhil Kumaraswamy – Mandya
Grandson of erstwhile Prime Minister and JD(S) leader H. D. Deve Gowda and son of Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy, Nikhil Kumaraswamy has been fielded from Mandya against Sumalatha, the wife of Kannada superstar Ambareesh who BJP is supporting.
Nikhil Kumaraswamy is trailing behind Sumalatha by over 1200 votes.
Sushmita Dev- Silchar
Daughter of late Congress leader, Santosh Mohan Dev and Santosh Mohan Dev, another Congress leader, Sushmita Dev has been fielded from Silchar.
She is trailing behind BJP candidate Rajdeep Roy by around 25,000 votes.
Gaurav Gogoi- Kaliabor
Son of Tarun Gogoi, former CM of Assam from Congress, Gaurav Gogoi has been fielded from Kaliabor.
He is trailing behind regional party Asom Gana Parishad’s candidate Moni Madhab Mahanta by about 12,000 votes.