Madhya Pradesh has emerged as the sixth State in the country with the highest presence of dynastic politics, according to a new report released by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch. The analysis highlights that nearly 21 percent of the State’s elected representatives belong to political families, underlining the continuing influence of legacy in Madhya Pradesh politics.
Out of 270 leaders examined in the report, including MLAs, Lok Sabha MPs and Rajya Sabha MPs, as many as 57 were found to have inherited their political standing. Among the State’s 230 MLAs, 48 come from political families, comprising 28 from the Bharatiya Janata Party and 20 from the Congress.
The trend extends to national representation as well, with five of Madhya Pradesh’s 29 Lok Sabha MPs and four of its 11 Rajya Sabha MPs carrying dynastic ties. Interestingly, four out of the five dynastic Lok Sabha MPs are women, pointing to how family legacies continue to play a decisive role in shaping women’s entry into politics.
The report also draws attention to well-known figures whose political careers are deeply rooted in family legacy. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia represents the Guna constituency as part of the influential Scindia family, one of the most powerful political dynasties in central India. Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh carries forward his family’s long involvement in public life from Raghogarh, while Ashok Singh, Sumer Singh Solanki, and Kavita Patidar are other names highlighted in the list. Many sitting MLAs, such as Vishwas Sarang, Krishna Gaur and Hemant Katare, also exemplify how family background continues to provide an edge in politics.
The phenomenon, however, is not confined to one party. Both the BJP and Congress, which dominate the political landscape of Madhya Pradesh, have substantial representation from political families despite publicly dismissing allegations of parivarvad, or dynasty politics. For the BJP, dynastic MLAs include the likes of Krishna Gaur, daughter-in-law of former Chief Minister Babulal Gaur, while for Congress, leaders such as Jai Vardhan Singh and Ajay Singh represent political heirs of long-standing family legacies.
The ADR’s findings have once again fueled debate about the influence of dynasties in Indian democracy. Critics argue that it sidelines deserving grassroots workers and reduces politics to a matter of inheritance rather than merit. Yet, political analysts suggest that legacy often provides familiarity and trust among voters, which parties use strategically during elections. With nearly one in every five lawmakers in Madhya Pradesh linked to political families, the report raises pertinent questions about whether dynastic influence is a hurdle to fresh political participation or an inevitable feature of electoral politics in the state.
