My Daddy Strongest

The Westminster model of democracy obviously does not provide for this phenomenon. Father-son duos, between themselves, sharing all power...

KARNATAKA: First of course the “humble farmer” making all the news. Deve Gowda’s tenure as prime minister may be considered as more of a fluke, but along with his two sons, H D Revanna and H D Kumaraswamy, he has ensured that the Gowda family is Family No. 1 in Karnataka. He is known to enjoy a nap or two, and that seems to have served him quite well politically. He claims to have slept all through his third son H D Kumaraswamy’s talks with the BJP for an alliance that saw him in the chief minister’s chair 20 months ago. Perhaps that is why he kept his wits about him when it came to the next stage of that alliance — handing over of power back to the BJP. Holding son firmly by his hand, Gowda ensured that the Government fell and he retained his “secular” credential for — who knows — another stint in Delhi. However, where exactly the Gowda clan stands will be clear in the coming elections.

PUNJAB: Punjab Chief Minister and Akali Dal president Parkash Singh Badal, a veteran of political battles, conducted a neat, bloodless coup in installing son Sukhbir Singh Badal as working president of the party. This has set the stage for a smooth succession of Sardarji by Kakaji when the time comes. Badal’s clever tactic of playing on the fatherly instincts of the Sukhdev Singh Dhindhsas, Jagdev Singh Talwandis and Captain Kanwaljit Singhs, by giving tickets to each of their sons, seems to have worked in Sukhbir’s favour.

HARYANA: The competition is tougher in neighbouring Haryana, with one father-son pair pitted against another. The Om Prakash Chautala-Ajay/Abhay Chautala combine is just about matched by Bhajan Lal-Chander Mohan-Kuldeep Bishnoi formation. Not to be left behind is Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who has sent his son Deepender Hooda into the Lok Sabha.

Story continues below this ad

UTTAR PRADESH: Though former chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav is promoting his son Akhilesh assiduously after having got him into the Lok Sabha, he retains hands-on control of the Samajwadi Party. Pankaj Singh, in contrast, has a reason to cry. His father, BJP president Rajnath Singh, loses nerve every time he is launched. Consequently, he first lost the party ticket from the Chiraigaon Assembly constituency and recently the state presidency of the BJP youth wing.

JAMMU AND KASHMIR: Omar Abdullah lacks the overbearing drive of the younger Chautalas, but is even more privileged. For, his father Farooq Abdullah has been more indulgent. While the Haryana boys still operate under the shadow of their father, Farooq has abdicated the leadership of the family outfit National Conference to make way for Omar.

MAHARASHTRA: Pankaj Singh might agree that Rajnath needs to take tips from Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on how to win friends and influence allies who stand in the family’s way, or have them neatly removed. His nephew Raj Thackeray, once considered his political heir, left the party while another close lieutenant Narayan Rane led a revolt over the succession issue. However, undaunted, Thackeray pushed on to anoint son Uddhav as his successor. Initially viewed as a novice, the younger Thackeray has strengthened his grip over the Sena and Maharashtra politics.

TAMIL NADU: Chief Minister and DMK boss M Karunanidhi has neatly divided his empire. The Madurai-based elder son M K Azhagiri has been given control of the southern districts of Tamil Nadu, while the more ambitious M K Stalin controls the rest. As in the case of the Thackeray household, the nephew is out in the cold. Dayanidhi Maran had a nice stint while it lasted, perhaps too nice for the family’s liking.

Story continues below this ad

KERALA: Former chief minister K Karnakaran is relentlessly fighting on to ensure that his son K Muraleedharan is firmly established in politics. However, nothing seems to have helped Murali, not even the state Congress presidency. When last heard of, the father and son were in the NCP. The next stop for the old warhorse may be wherever her son’s future is brightest and most secure.