Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to denounce dynastic politics as a “threat to democracy,” his message seems to have been selectively heard within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
The ongoing Bihar Assembly election has exposed a clear divide inside the coalition: while the BJP and JD(U) under Nitish Kumar have largely resisted family-based nominations, several of their smaller allies have openly embraced them.
Leading the charge is Jitan Ram Manjhi, former Chief Minister and head of the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) who were given six seats by the BJP. His daughter-in-law Deepa Manjhi, her mother Jyoti Manjhi, and son-in-law Praful Manjhi have all been fielded by HAM, while his son Santosh Suman continues to serve as a member of the Legislative Council. The heavy family presence has prompted criticism from rivals, who accuse Manjhi of treating the party as an extension of his household.
The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), led by Chirag Paswan which got 19 seats in the alliance, has also followed a familiar template. Paswan, already the political heir of the late Ram Vilas Paswan, has given a ticket to his nephew Simant Mrinal, while his brother-in-law Arun Bharti serves as the party’s MP from Jamui. The Paswan family thus continues to dominate both parliamentary and assembly representation within the party.
Similarly, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) chief Upendra Kushwaha, who too was given six seats, has fielded his wife Snehalata Kushwaha, reinforcing the pattern of kinship-driven nominations among NDA’s smaller constituents.
In contrast, both the BJP and JD(U) have consciously avoided fielding relatives of their sitting MPs or senior leaders. Party leaders maintained that candidates onwere selected strictly on performance and electoral viability, aligning with Modi’s consistent campaign against nepotism.
Yet, the contradiction within the NDA has somewhat dented the message that the BJP leadership has been promoting for a long time now.
