In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, there were at least 8 dynasts grandchildren, great-grandsons and sons of ex-CMs of Haryana, all of them were the usual suspects, i.e. Lal trio clans, Hooda-Birender clan and Rao-Yadav clan.[5] Of total 10 seats from Haryana, the highest number of dynasts candidates were from Congress 9 (2 from Hooda clan, Shruti Chaudhary from Bansi Lal clan, Bhavya Bishnoi from Bhajan Lal clan, Kumari Selja, Kuldeep Sharma, Tanwar), followed by 2 from Devi Lal clan (Digvijay and Arjun Chautala), and 2 from BJP (Bijender Singh and Rao Inderjit).[6] The BJP won all the 10 seats in the election.
Consequences of dynastic politics in Haryana
Proliferation of dynasties keeps people poorer
A data based scientific empirical research, which studied the impact of dynastic politics on the level of poverty of the provinces, found a positive correlation between dynastic politics and poverty i.e. the higher proportion of dynastic politicians in power in a province leads to higher poverty rate.[7] There is significant evidence that these political dynasties use their political dominance over their respective regions to enrich themselves, using methods such as graft or outright bribery of legislators.[8] Even relatively richer provinces could not become truly richer due to the dynastic politics.
Since the political dynasties hold significant economic power and their interests are overrepresented due to dynastic politics, it leads to the conflicts of interests and corruption.[8] As of December 2009[update], 120 (22%) of India's 542 parliament members were accused of various crimes under India's First Information Report procedure.[9] Many of the biggest scandals since 2010[update] have involved high level government officials, including Cabinet Ministers and Chief Ministers, such as the 2010 Commonwealth Games scam (₹70,000 crore (US$8.4 billion)), the Adarsh Housing Society scam, the Coal Mining Scam (₹1.86 lakh crore (US$22 billion)), the Mining Scandal and the Cash for Vote scams. The industries most vulnerable to corruption as: government-run social development projects, infrastructure development & real estate projects, mining, aerospace & defence, and Power & Utilities (2013 EY and 2011 KPMG).[10][11] India ranked at 78th place out of 180 in the 2018 Corruption Perception Index and more than 50% of Indians had at some point or another paid a bribe to a public official to get a job done (Transparency International, 2008).[12][13]
The negative impact of dynasties on the economy and wealth of province can be explained by the "Carnegie Effect" named after the industrialist Andrew Carnegie who donated all his wealth for philanthropy to non-family members, because he believed the dynasts have less incentive of working hard if they are assured of inherited power, connections and wealth.[14] Political dynasties prefer status quo and develop self-serving interests largely different from the interests of voters they ought to be serving. Dynastic candidates, being almost exclusively from the upper classes, are naturally biased towards defending their own vested interests.
Misuse of state resources by dynasties for self-promotion
In a blatant act of self-promotion by misusing state institutes, the Bhupinder Singh Hooda led Congress govt in Haryana, introduced a chapter titled "Haryana Ke Gaurav" (Pride of Haryana) in the curriculum of class V to teach students about the political dynasties in a glorified light i.e. highlighted only the positive aspects of dynast leaders related to top 5 prolific dynasties of the state, e.g. Devi Lal and Bansi Lal, Chotu Ram and Ranbir Singh Hooda, etc.[15] Based on the recommendations by a committee that had members of NCERT and SCERT in 2016 this chapter was removed by the BJP government led by the Chief Minister Manohar Lal.[15] It was replaced by a new chapter titled "Gaurav Gatha" (Glorious Legends), which replaced the dynast leaders with the freedom fightersnon-dynast leaders of national stature, including the greats such as Bhagat Singh, Vallabhbhai Patel, Lala Lajpat Rai and Lokmanya Tilak to name a few.[15] To reinforce their political image and lineage to gain unfair "instant recognition" for multiple generations, dynasts engage in wastage of government resources and taxpayer's money, for example erecting numerous statues of the dynast leaders, naming multiple institutes and schemes after the same dynastic leaders of own clan, etc.; this money could have been better spent on the welfare of poor and the development of the state. To reverse and prevent this, there have been demands for the "anti-dynasty laws" and the "anti-dynasties pro-martyrs institution naming policies" to specifically exclude the dynasts and politicians, and to include the martyrs and the non-political prominent achievers in the specific area. [citation needed]
To keep the rivals out of power and to prevent the rise of emerging challengers, the political dynasties often misuse state agencies, police, vigilance bureau, false cases with planted evidence to persecute and harass their rivals in each district and village in a psychopathic manner.[16]
Psychopathic persecution of political challengers
"Why do we invest our lives in politics, Why do we endure the dust, heat, bumpy helicopters, ‘dhakka-mukki’ (push-and-shove), court cases, arrests, to get this thing called power? Is mein aisa kya current hai (what is this irresistible pull)? Not the money. After all, even after you made all your money, you couldn’t really enjoy it. In our politics, you can’t be seen to be rich, even your cars, homes and kurtas had to look modest. Even your families couldn’t be seen flaunting jewellery, or splurging. When you get power you do to the guy you defeated exactly what he did to you. Not even so much to him, but to his people. We know who his people are, in every district, every village. We send our police, vigilance bureau, whatever after them. For those we really want to target, we may even keep a kilo of illegal opium or a murder charge handy. When we hurt these people, they go running to their bosses and say, huzoor, bachao mujhe (sir, please save me). Then, their leader says he can’t, because he hasn’t got the power any more. The torture he suffers (jab woh tadapta hai), that is our fix. Tab dil mein jo thandak padti hai, uske liye 5 saal dhakke khaate hain (the incredible pleasure we get from our rivals’ helplessness to help his own is why we work so hard at our politics)."
Dynasties prevent the rise of talented non-dynasts
Dynastic politicians tend to be generally less capable compared to non-dynastic politicians, because of their reliance on dynastic connections rather than academic and professional competence for their position.[2] Unethical practices of nepotism and cronyism have negative consequences because the truly qualified and talented people have to face injustices and it eventually leads to corruption and brain drains which creates the social discrimination.[17] Research has found that the dynast members of parliament (MPs) are less likely to have served at the grassroots politics, such as panchayat elections, than the non-dynastic MPs.[18] Political dynasties collude to maintain the status quo, by preventing the non-dynastic better-skilled more-capable challengers/candidates being elected to the power. This in turn leads to the bureaucratic inefficiencies and underdevelopment, the lack of accountability and transparency in governance, and the resistance to adoption of new progressive-transformative ideas needed for the faster-paced development.
Parties go in decline with the death of the chief patron, internal squabbling for power among the members of controlling-family, rise of new non-dynastic charismatic leaders, anti-dynasty disgust among the voters with the increased literacy rate in the country, rising aspirations of the politically aware non-dynastic masses and civil society. Dynasties can be reduced and eliminated by implementing the anti-dynasty laws, stringent conflict of interest laws, stringent laws for the transparency in governance and party operations, mandatory intra-party democracy law as a precondition for maintaining the ongoing registration of the party, laws limiting the number of terms for the elected representatives and party officials, laws limiting the number of simultaneous candidates from the same families, laws to enforce a cooling period between the generations of dynasties for the entry into politics, developing grassroot leadership, institutionalised mechanism for the progression of grassroot leaders into state and national politics e.g. mandatory for MLA and MP to have served at panchayat or municipal level, strengthening the institutionalised role of the civil society in the enforcing the accountability and transparency in governance.[18]
Statewide rampant dynasts
Five rampant and large dynasties over several generations have been prominent in Haryana's politics since the formation of Haryana in 1966, namely: the Lal Trio, the Hooda-Birender Singh clans, Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma clan and Rao-Yadav clans.[4]
Origin of this political dynasty is related to Chaudhary Matu Ram Hooda, an Arya Samajist. Chaudhary Matu Ram was one of the key members of the first Congress conference in Rohtak.[19][20] Hooda's traditional sphere of influence originates from Rohtak and extends to Sonipat and Jhajjar.
Ranbir Singh Hooda, MLA, MP in Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha, Ex-Minister of Punjab & Haryana
Inderjit Singh Hooda, son of Ranbir Singh, contested 1982 Haryana assembly election as INC candidate[21]
Deepender Singh Hooda, son of Bhupinder Singh, Former MP in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.
Bhagwat Dayal Sharma clan of Haryana
B. D. Sharma, ex-Chief Minister, Minister of Labour in Punjab, Punjab Congress president (1963–1966), Chief minister Haryana (1966–1967), Rajya Sabha member (1968–1974), Lok Sabha member (1977 from Karnal), Governor of Orissa and Madhya Pradesh from 1978 to 1984.
Rajesh Sharma, elder son of Bhagwat Dayal Sharma, ex-Minister Labour and Employment, Sports and Youth Affairs from 1982 to 1987, 1991-1996 respectively.
Mahadev Sharma, Younger son of B. D. Sharma ex-vice president INLD, currently member of Congress Haryana.
Lal trio of Haryana
The Lal trio in the politics of Haryana refers to three influential political leaders who have had a significant impact on the state's political landscape. The leaders are Devi Lal, Bansi Lal, and Bhajan Lal. All of the Lal trio started their politics from Congress party, became turncoats, often founding, merging, splitting and switching parties.
Chaudhary Bansi Lal clan
This clan, once dominant at the state level, is now declining and limited only to Bhiwani Lok Sabha and Tosham assembly seats.
Sumitra Devi, Bansi Lal's daughter who contested 2014 Loharu assembly election against her sister's husband Sombir Singh which both lost.[24][22]
Sombir Singh Sheoran, Bansi Lal's son-in-law and husband of Bansi Lal's daughter Savita, ex INC MLA,[25] contested and lost 2014 Loharu assembly election.[24][22]
This clan, once dominant at the state level, is now declining and struggling to retain their traditional hold on Hisar Lok Sabha and Adampur assembly seats.
This clan is originally from Rajasthan and not from Haryana.[31] In the 19th century, Devi Lal's grandfather Teja Ram Sihag (belonging to the 'Sihag' clan of Jats, but that surname is generally not used) came from Bikaner in Rajasthan and settled in Teja Khera village of Sirsa district.[31] Teja Ram had three sons: Deva Ram, Asha Ram and Hukam Ram. Asharam had two sons, Lekhram and Tara Chand.[31] Lekhram had two sons, Sahib Ram and Devi Lal.[31] Due to Devi Lal, the obscure farming family became a political dynasty.
Sahib Ram was the first politician from the family to be elected as MLA in 1938, under British rule. Fourteen years later, in 1952, Devi Lal followed in his footsteps, by becoming MLA.[31] Devi Lal had four sons, namely Partap Singh, Om Prakash Chautala, Ranjit Singh and Jagdish Chander.[32] Partap Singh was MLA in the 1960s,[32] Ranjit Singh was a Congress MP,[33] Om Prakash Chautala became Chief Minister,[33][32] and Jagdish died young, before he could join politics.[33][32]
Om Prakash Chautala has two sons, Ajay Singh Chautala and Abhay Singh Chautala. Both have been MLA and MP.[34][33] Devi Lal's numerous grandsons, greatgrandsons and other family members are also in politics, such as Aditya Devilal, Dushyant Chautala and his brother Digvijay Chautala as well as their cousin Arjun Chautala. This clan, once dominant at the state level and now in decline due to divisions and internal family squabbling in the large clan, is struggling to revive their statewide hold while still retaining some pockets of influence in Hisar and Sirsa area.
Sahib Ram Sihag, Devi Lal's elder brother, first politician from the family, Congress MLA from Hisar in 1938 and 1947.[34]
Ganpat Ram, son of Sahib Ram
Kamalvir Singh, grandson of Sahib Ram and son of Ganpat Ram. He contested several times on a Congress party ticket for the state assembly from the Dabwali constituency.[35]
Amit Sihag (Chautala), great grandson of Devi Lal's Brother, Son of Kamalvir Singh. MLA from Dabwali (2019).[36]
Devi Lal, Former Deputy Prime Minister of India and two times Chief Minister of Haryana. He started from the Indian National Congress by first becoming an MLA in Haryana in 1952,[31] later co-founded and split many parties, where he later founded the Indian National Lok Dal.
Partap Singh, eldest son of Devi Lal, INLD MLA in the 1960s.[32]
Ravi Chautala, son of Partap Singh Chautala. His wife, Sunaina Chautala, is General Secretary of the INLD party.
Jitendra Chautala. Not involved in politics.
Om Prakash Chautala, second son of Devi Lal, Former Chief Minister of Haryana, National President of the Indian National Lok Dal. He was convicted and served in prison due to a case of political corruption. He and his wife Smt. Snehlata Devi are blessed with two sons.
Kanta Chautala, wife of Abhay Singh Chautala. She contested Zila Parishad poll in Sirsa, but lost to son of her brother-in-law Aditya Devilal Chautala.[34]
Gagandeep Chautala. Works closely with his father in politics.
Jagdish Chunder Chautala, fourth and youngest son of Devi Lal. He died at a young age, but left behind three sons to succeed him.
Aditya Devilal Chautala, grandson of Devi Lal and son of Jagdish. Member of the INLD (formerly BJP). Defeated Kanta Chautala, wife of his cousin brother Abhay, and got elected to the Zila Parishad of Sirsa district.[34][35] Now he is the MLA of Dabwali.
Aniruddh Chautala
Abhishek Chautala
Chaudhary Chhotu Ram clan
Chhotu Ram Ohlan, was the founder of the Unionist Party and a Revenue Minister in Punjab govt., these branches are descended from or related to him. He had no son, his nephew Sri Chand became his political successor and his son-in-law Neki Ram (husband of Chottu Ram's daughter and father of Birender Singh) became prominent politician in Jind area.[1]
Ch. Sri Chand Ohlyan, nephew of Chottu Ram, MLA and speaker of Haryana assembly in 1967.[1]
Neki Ram Sheokand, son-in-law of Chotu Ram, former MLA & Minister in the joint Haryana & Punjab Government.[1]
Chaudhary Birender Singh Sheokand, son of Neki Ram and grandson of Chottu Ram,[39] 5 times MLA, 4 times MP, Union Minister for Steel, former President of Haryana Congress, nephew of Ranbir Singh Hooda and cousin of Bhupinder Singh Hooda[19][20]
Premlata Singh Sheokand, wife of Birender Singh, MLA Uchana Kalan
Brijendra Singh Sheokand, son of Birender and Premlata, nephew of Bhupinder Singh Hooda, MP in 2019 Lok Sabha.
Ahir clans of South Haryana
Ahir populated South Haryana has 11 assembly seats spread across 3 districts (Rewari, Gurugram and Mahendragarh) and 3 Lok Sabha seats,[40] and politics of this region of various parties is prominent in by the turncoat-politician descendants of Rao Tula Ram who often compete with each other in elections while otherwise remaining united in keeping new challengers out.
Following claim either direct descent or from the clan of Rao Tula Ram.[41]
Chiranjeev Rao, son of Ajay Singh Yadav who is married to Lalu Prasad Yadav's daughter Anushka,[43][44] foreary General Secretary of Haryana Congress,[46] Congress-RJD Corrdinator for Bihar 2015 assembly polls,[47]
Aayushi Rao, wife of Abhimanyu Rao, sarpanch) of Saharanwas village in Rewari district
Birender Yadav clan
This clan became prominent due to Rao Birender Singh, who served as the 2nd Chief Minister of Haryana. He is the great-grandson of Rao Tula Ram.
Rao Balbir Singh, MLA in Punjab assembly from 1921 to 1941.[45]
Rao Birender Singh, Son of Rao Balbir Singh,[45] claims direct descent from Tula Ram,[41] 2nd Chief Minister Haryana.[51]
Sumitra Devi, daughter of Rao Balbir Singh and sister of Rao Birender Singh,[45] sister of Rao Birender Singh,[42] defeated Rao Abhay Singh from Rewari in 1967.[42] Contested lok sabha polls from Alwar under Vishal Haryana Party[52]
Rao Shoe Raj Singh, son of Rao Balbir Singh and brother of Rao Birender,[42] lost elections from Rewari to Rao Abhay Singh in 1972.[42]
Kuldeep Sharma, son of Chiranji Lal Sharma and 2 times INC MLA from Teh-Ganaur in Sonipat district,[55][56][57]
Bhadana-Gurjar clan of South Haryana
Avtar Singh Bhadana, Current MLA from Mirapur Assembly, Uttar Pradesh, 4 Times MP from Faridabad, Former MP from Meerut and Former Minister in Haryana Cabinet
Kartar Singh Bhadana, brother of Avtar Singh Bhadana, Former Cabinet Minister in Haryana Cabinet, former MLA from Samalkha(Haryana) and Khatauli, Uttar Pradesh
Dalbir-Selja subordinate clan of dalit constituencies
This clan is prominent in the politics of Sirsa and Ambala.
Chaudhary Dalbir Singh, was an MLA, MP and union minister belonging to INC. He died in the year 1987 aged 61 years of age.
Selja Kumari, is the daughter of Chaudhary Dalbir Singh, former MP and union minister from INC.
Jindal clan of Hisar-Kurukshetra
This industrial clan, a perfect example of industrialist-politicians nexus and conflict of interests, is prominent in the politics of Hisar and Kurukshetra Lok Sabha as well as Hisar assembly seats.
Om Prakash Jindal, 3 times INC MLA from Hisar assembly and once power minister of Haryana was one of the richest persons in India.[58][59]
Savitri Jindal, wife of Om Prakash Jindal who served as an INC MLA from Hisar assembly and also been a minister in haryana govt, is the richest women of India[60][61][22] She switched over to BJP in March 2024.
This clan plays a significant role in the politics of Mewat area and has participated in elections from all three assembly seats of the Nuh district (Nuh, Punahana, Ferozepur Jhirka). They also have immense influence in the Hathin area of the Palwal district and the Taoru area of the Nuh district. Their political involvement has even extended to the Faridabad Lok Sabha constituency region as well. The clan's patriarch, Chaudhary Rahim Khan, served as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from the Faridabad constituency. This clan originates from the Katpuri village of the Nuh district of Haryana.
Chaudhary Sardar Khan, brother of Chaudhary Rahim Khan, served as Deputy Home Minister of Haryana in 1977.
Chaudhary Habib Ur Rehman alias Nayab Sahab, son of Chaudhary Rahim Khan, served as independent MLA from Nuh in 2005.[65]
Chaudhary Mohammad Ilyas, son of Chaudhary Rahim Khan, two-time State Cabinet Minister, five time MLA, has won from all of the constituencies in the Nuh district (Nuh, Punahana, Ferozepur Jhirka). Also contested the 2004 Lok Sabha elections from Faridabad, came second and lost to Avtar Singh Bhadana.[66][67][68]
Shankar Dayal Sharma clan
These political branches greatly benefited from their relationship with former Indian President Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma. There are many more from his lineage in the national politics, only following branches are active in Haryana.
Tanwar-Maken clan
This branch of clan is prominent in INC politics of Sirsa.
Lalit Maken, father of Avantika Maken and grand son-in-law of Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma
Ashok Tanwar, son-in-law of Lalit Maken, husband of Lalit's daughter Avantika Maken who is maternal grand daughter of former Indian President Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, Tanwar lost several elections from Sirsa and has been 1 time MP from Sirsa[69]
Tayyab Husain Clan of Mewat
This clan became extremely influential due to Tayyab Husain, who served as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from Gurgaon and Faridabad, and holds the unique record of serving as a Minister in the undivided state of Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana. This clan is prominent interstate level into the Mewat region of Rajasthan as well. Yasin Khan, the father of Tayyab Husain, was originally given the social leadership of Mewat and is said to be the first lawyer from the Mewat region. He has also been associated with prominent Indian political figures such as Sir Chhotu Ram and Mahatma Gandhi. This clan originates from the Rehna village of the Nuh district of Haryana.
Zahida Khan, daughter of Tayyab Husain and sister of Zakir Hussain, several times INC MLA of Kaman constituency in mewat region of Rajasthan adjoining Haryana.[73][71]
Shahnaaz Khan, Zahida's daughter and Tayyab Husain granddaughter, a medical doctor and was elected sarpanch from village Garhazan in Rajasthan in Mewat region on Haryana-Rajasthan border.[71][74][75]
Haneef Khan, paternal grandfather of Shahnaaz Khan and father-in-law of Zahida Hussain, sarpanch for 55 years.[75]
Jalees Khan, son of Haneef Khan, Zahida Hussain's husband and father of Shahnaaz Khan, elected head of block panchayat.[75]
Local district-level dynasts
These clans hog the politics only in a certain district or assembly seat.
Saini Rajputz of Hisar
Hari Singh Saini- Former minister Hari Singh Saini is a prominent political figure who has been active in various parties throughout his career. Notably, Saini has contested elections against the prominent leader Om Prakash Jindal demonstrating his significant political influence.
Rekha Saini- Rekha Saini, daughter-in-law of Hari Singh Saini, is an active member of Bhartiya Janta Party
Kanda clan of Sirsa
This clan is prominent in the politics of Sirsa city.
Murli Dhar Kanda, contested India's first general election on Jan Sangh ticket, father of Gopal Goyal Kanda.[76][77][78]
This clan is prominent in the assemblies of Indri in Karnal and Pai in Kaithal.
Ch. Randhir Singh Mann, leader of the unionist party.
Janki Mann, Wife of Randhir Singh Mann, 1 time MLA from Indri.
Ch. Surjit Singh Mann, Son of Randhir Singh Mann, 3 time MLA from Indri, Minister in Chaudhary Bansi Lal's cabinet.
Ch. Randeep Singh Mann, Son of Surjit Singh Mann, lost MLA election.
Tejinder Pal Mann, Nephew of Randhir Singh Mann, 2 time MLA from Pai.
Regional Meo clans of the Mewat region
These clans only have prominence in one or two assembly constituencies within or near the Nuh district area where there is a significant Meo population.
Azmat Khan, Former Lok Dal MLA from Ferozepur Jhirka in 1987.
Azad Mohammad, First Muslim Deputy Speaker of the Haryana Legislative Assembly and MLA from the Ferozepur Jhirka constituency.[83]
Rahish Khan, son of Azmat Khan, former Independent MLA from Punahana constituency, Haryana Waqf Board Administrator, and Minister of State in Haryana.[83]
Surjewala clan of Jind-Kaithal areas
This clan is prominent in the politics of Jind-Kaithal-Narwana area in mid-north Haryana.
This branch of clan is prominent in INC politics of Ambala.
Venod Sharma, brother of Shyam Sunder Sharma who is married to the daughter of Shankar Dayal Sharma Venod Sharma: The man who could have been CM June 2016 | former INC MLA and Rajaya Sabha MP,[86][87][88] been a turncoat with own party.[89][90][91][92][93]
^ abcdBhim S. Dahiya, 2008, Power Politics in Haryana: A View from the Bridge, page35-48.
^ abDaniele, Gianmarco, and Benny Geys. "Born in the Purple: Political Dynasties and Politicians' Human Capital." June 1, 2014. Accessed September 29, 2015.
^Savitri Jindal, A Jain Devotee From Terapanth Sector Declared the Richest Woman in India "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 February 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)