Bihar Assembly Elections 2025: Dynasty Politics At Play As Leaders Lobby For Sons And Grandsons

With assembly elections approaching, the sons of several prominent political leaders are preparing to enter the electoral fray for the first time, seeking to carry forward their family legacies. The push to promote the next generation is so strong that in some cases, tickets are being sought for grandsons as well, with more than a dozen such contenders emerging across various parties.

Ambitions In The Ruling JDU

Several leaders within the Janata Dal (United) are actively promoting their sons for party tickets.

Anand Mohan's Family: Former MP Anand Mohan is keen for his second son, Anshuman Anand, to contest from the Navinagar assembly constituency in Aurangabad. This would further expand the family's political footprint, as his wife, Lovely Anand, is the JDU MP from Sheohar, and his first son, Chetan Anand, is the JDU MLA from Sheohar (having won on an RJD ticket in the previous election). Lovely Anand herself won a by-election from Navinagar in 1996.

Bashishtha Narain Singh's Son: Prashant, the son of former JDU state president and senior socialist leader BashishthaNarain Singh, is a strong contender for the JDU ticket from the Dumraon constituency.

Madan Sahni's Son: Welfare Minister Madan Sahni, the current JDU MLA from Bahadurpur, is seeking a ticket for his son, Abhishek Sahni, from a constituency within Darbhanga district, as Abhishek is now eligible to contest.

The Paswan Legacy And Alliance Tensions

The influential Paswan family is also looking to continue its legacy in the Alauli assembly constituency in Khagaria district.

Yashraj Paswan, son of Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) national president Pashupati Kumar Paras, is a contender for the Alauli seat. This constituency has been a family stronghold, having been won eight times in 17 elections by the Paswan family (once by the late Ram Vilas Paswan and seven times by Pashupati Kumar Paras).

However, Paras is currently aligned with the RJD-led Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan), and the RJD, which has won the seat in the last two elections, is reportedly reluctant to concede it.

Contenders In Congress And BJP-LJP (RV)

The trend is equally prevalent in the opposition and other political camps.

Madan Mohan Jha's Son: Congress state president Dr Madan Mohan Jha is seeking a ticket for his son, Madhav Jha, from a seat in Darbhanga district, with a preference for Benipur. He had unsuccessfully tried to secure a ticket for Madhav in the 2020 elections.

Vinod Narayan Jha's Son: Senior BJP leader and MLA from Benipatti, Vinod Narayan Jha (who won his last election by over 32,000 votes), has a son, Vibhay Jha, who is active in the rival LJP (Ram Vilas) faction and is also a ticket contender.

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A Three-Generation Claim From A Single Seat

A unique situation has emerged in the Phulparas assembly constituency in Madhubani district, where three generations of a single family are seeking the same ticket.

Senior Congress leader and former minister Kripanath Pathak, who was the party's candidate last time and lost by 11,000 votes, is once again in the race.

Alongside him, his son Amarnath Pathak and grandson Abhinav Pathak are also contenders for the Congress ticket from Phulparas.

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Defending his family's claim, Kripanath Pathak said, "There is nothing wrong with our family having three contenders. Our entire family has been with the Congress for a long time. In such a situation, from which party should we seek a ticket if not from Congress?"