He IS among the closest advisers of Rahul Gandhi,who has often spoken against dynastic politics in the Congress. However,it did not surprise many when Digvijaya Singhs son Jaivardhan became the latest star son in the party to jump into politics last week or that he did so with the Congress declaring him the official candidate from the family pocket borough of Raghogarh Assembly seat.
The senior Singh insisted his son had disregarded the advice not to join politics as he wants to serve the people. However,the way the wind is blowing is clear. The sitting legislator his son will replace has already spoken of Jaivardhan winning with a record margin.
In the Raghogarh constituency,Digvijaya is Diggy Raja and his younger brother Laxman Singh Chhote Raja or Chunnu Raja. Against such a feudal backdrop,it appears,Jaivardhan could not be seen in any other role.
Not that Digvijaya and his son are alone in this boat. Madhya Pradesh has a history of dynastic politics starting with first chief minister Ravishankar Shukla,whose two sons Shyamacharan and Vidyacharan both went on to make it big in politics.
Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh is the son of Arjun Singh,who was the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh for three terms. Ajays sister Veena tried her luck as an Independent candidate in the last Lok Sabha elections before joining the Congress recently.
Last week Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans elder son Kartikeya too presided over his first public function,in his fathers Assembly constituency. While the 18-year-old has some distance to go before he can even contest elections,it did not stop his minders from making him address first-time voters about the power of their franchise.
BJP stalwart Rajmata Scindias son Madhavrao,daughters Vasundhara and Yashodhara,and grandsons Jyotiraditya and Dushyant have already achieved political success to different degrees. Ask them about this and politicians seldom differ from Panchayat Minister Gopal Bhargava,whose young son has become politically active: When a doctors son can become a doctor,and a traders son can become a trader,why cant a politicians son follow suit?
Milind is a senior assistant editor based in Bhopal
milind.ghatwai@expressindia.com
