Political families unleash the new generation as election season opens

They are young political novices with famous surnames, raring to make their mark in an election season soaked in the spirit of youth.

A hotbed of caste politics, Haryana will see a lot of young guns carry forward the long political legacies of their families in the upcoming general elections, and later the Assembly polls. Leading the brigade are cousins Dushyant Singh Chautala and Anirudh Devilal Chautala, descendants of the late Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal, who will contest the polls for two different parties. Dushyant is the elder son of INLD leader and former MP Ajay Singh Chautala and grandson of former Haryana Chief Minister O.P. Chautala, and seeks to keep the flag flying in the absence of the two jailed leaders. Having graduated from a United States university, the Lawrence School alumnus is wooing rural voters and says he wants to "expose the Congress".

"We will take on the Congress on the issues of corruption and illegal land deals. My father and grandfather are in jail for giving (people) jobs. We tell the people that so far, only two (from the family) have gone to jail; you elect us, we will create jobs and go to jail as well," he added.

Anirudh is Dushyant's second cousin, the son of Devi Lal's youngest son, the late Jagdish Chander. But instead of representing the party his great-grandfather launched, he has vowed allegiance to the Aam Aadmi Party. A budding film-maker, he created the campaign 'Yuva Bolega' to highlight issues young voters want addressed. "All the issues of 'Yuva Bolega' were acknowledged and supported by AAP, which prompted me and my supporters to join the party," he said.

Anirudh says tackling nepotism in job recruitment is among his top priorities. "A deserving candidate stands no chance against the overriding influence of the kin of the high and mighty in all fields of life, including politics and bureaucracy," he added.

In neighbouring Himachal Pradesh, where power has largely alternated between regional stalwarts Virbhadra Singh of the Congress and Prem Kumar Dhumal of the BJP, another scion is set to follow in his father's footsteps.

Meet Vikramaditya Singh, the son of Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra. Vikramaditya was elected the Himachal Youth Congress chief last year, and went to school at Simla's Bishop Cotton before pursuing his graduation from Delhi University's Hans Raj College. All of 24, the young politician runs an NGO called Himachal Pradesh Sports, Culture and Environment Association, and has represented the state in shooting at the national level. He says his reason to be in politics is simple: "We want to fight corruption, and will leave no stone unturned to keep the BJP out of power." Eager to be a "true Congressman like my father", Vikramaditya adds that he is keen on following in the footsteps of party vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

Down South, meanwhile, there is a different sort of dynasty politics at play as established politicians go out of their way to keep certain constituencies within the family, even if it means fielding their kin on tickets of rival parties.

Leading the circus is Andhra Pradesh. Almost every party, from the mauled Congress to the TDP, TRS, YSRC and a gaggle of small fry, here has pitched kin of veterans in the fray. Union minister G. Venkataswami's younger son G. Vivek, who lost the Assembly elections in 2009, is reportedly eyeing a constituency held by a Congress stalwart.

In Tamil Nadu, there is speculation that DMDK supremo Vijyakanth may field his son-inlaw L.K. Sudheesh. Kerala will have a lesser share of dynasties in action this poll. Jose K Mani, son of Kerala Finance minister K.M. Mani will contest from Kottayam Lok Sabha seat in Kerala. He is the sitting MP there.