Dynasty politics is the flavour of the season and the Karnataka Assembly elections are flooded with candidates who already have a family member in the political arena. Two or three persons of a family contesting elections has become the norm.
Former chief minister and JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy, who is contesting from Ramanagaram, has fielded his wife Anita from neighbouring Chennapatna. His elder brother H D Revanna is contesting from the traditional family seat of Holenarsipura, originally held by their father former prime minister H D Deve Gowda. There was talk of fielding Revanna’s wife Bhavani also in the upcoming polls, but the JD(S) has inexplicably dropped that.
Kumaraswamy is blithely unconcerned about any criticism on family dynamics.
‘’It shows how much faith, love and affection people have for our family,’’ he told INN.
The trend is there in all political parties but even more so in the Congress which has given tickets to kith and kin of prominent leaders.
This is in the teeth of the A K Anthony committee recommending to the Congress national leadership that kin of party leaders should not be considered for party tickets. Giving tickets to sons and daughters of two union ministers and a couple of state leaders not only delayed ticket distribution process but also paved way for rebellion in the party.
After much negotiation, Union Labour Minister M Mallikarjun Kharge got a ticket for his son, Priyank from Chittapur, while his friend, former CM N Dharm Singh got his son, Ajay to contest from Jewargi.
Former union railway minister, C K Jaffer Sharief not only managed to get ticket for his son-in-law, Sayyed Yasin for Raichur City but also for his grand son Rahman Sharief from Hebbal in Bangalore.
Another Congress leader, M Krishnappa who is popularly known as ‘Layout,’ is contesting from Vijayanagar segment in Bangalore, and his son, Priya Krishna, one of the richest candidates in the polls, is seeking re-election from the neighbouring Govindarajanagar.
The other father-son pair, Shamanur Shivashankarappa and S S Mallikarjun, who are contesting from Davanagere North and South respectively, got their tickets at the last minute.Basavaraj Koujalgi, a brother of Congress MLC Mahantesh Koujalgi is contesting from Bailhongal in Belgaum district.
Cousins Santosh and Anil Lad are contesting from Kalghatgi and Bellary respectively.
The Congress’ national rival, BJP, can no longer point fingers at dynasty. Sitting BJP MLA from Rajarajeshwari, M Srinivas, has got ticket for his brother M Krishnappa to contest from Bangalore South.
Deputy Chief Minister R Ashok, contesting from Padmanabhanagar, has managed to get a ticket for his relative, A Ravi from Byatarayanapura.
Three members of a family, Ramesh Jarkiholi, Balachandra Jarkoholi and Satish Jarkiholi, one of the most powerful families of Belgaum district, are contesting from Gokak, Arabhavi and Yamakanamaradi Assembly constituencies respectively, from different parties.Still, not all have been blessed with dynastic powers. Union Minister K H Muniyappa could not get a ticket for his daughter Rupa Shashidhar.
Deputy Opposition Leader in the State Legislative Assembly T B Jayachandra could not get a ticket for his son and KPCC president G Parameshwar made a futile attempt to get ticket for one of his close relatives.
']]}