The Hindu : National : Sons and daughters shine

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 14, 2004

National

National

Sons and daughters shine

By Aarti Dhar

NEW DELHI, MAY 13 . India may no longer appear to be shining for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), but the sons and daughters of several politicians are certainly shining after the election results.

Among the winners and losers is a long list of children — particularly sons — of eminent politicians. Topping the list is Rahul Gandhi, son of the former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, who has won from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. Mr. Gandhi will be a new entrant to Parliament like Sachin Pilot who has made it from Dausa in Rajasthan. Mr. Pilot contested from his father, Rajesh Pilot's constituency. Another important younger generation personality to win was Jyotiraditya Scindia, son of Madhavrao Scindia, from Guna in Madhya Pradesh.

The Rajasthan Chief Minister, Vasundhara Raje Scindia's son, Dushyant Singh, has won the Jhalawar constituency, once held by his mother before she became the Chief Minister. Manvendra Singh, son of the former Finance Minister, Jaswant Singh, made it to Parliament from Barmer in Rajasthan.

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav's son, Akhilesh Yadav, made it from Kannauj, while Sukhbir Singh Badal, son of the former Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, won from Faridkot. Kunwar Jatin Prasada, son of Congress leader, Jitendra Prasada, was elected from Shajahanpur in U.P. Naresh Gujral, son of the former Prime Minister, I.K.Gujral, who contested from Jalandhar in Punjab, also lost.

In Tamil Nadu, Dayanidhi Maran, son of the late DMK leader, Murasoli Maran, was elected from Central Madras and Daggubati Purandereswari, daughter of the former Telugu Desam Party leader, N.T. Rama Rao, won from Bapatla in Andhra Pradesh. Padmaja Venugopal, daughter of Congress leader, K. Karunakaran, lost from Mukundapuram in Kerala.

The most interesting contest was at the Bhiwani parliamentary constituency in Haryana where sons of two former and present Chief Ministers contested. Kuldeep Bishnoi, son of the former Chief Minister, Bhajan Lal, won. Surender Singh, son of the former CM, Bansi Lal, and Ajay Singh Chautala, son O.P. Chautala, were humbled. Mr. Chautala's second son, Abhay Singh, also lost the Kurukshetra seat to Naveen Jindal.

In Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, People's Democratic Party leader and daughter of the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohd. Sayeed, was elected from the Anantnag constituency, as was Omar Abdullah, son of the former Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah from Srinagar.

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