PPP is synonymous with Bhuttos, so is Congress with Gandhis

Islamabad, Nov 24: India and

might be at loggerheads with each other over the issue of Kashmir. But when it comes to the practice of

be sure that both countries will follow dynasty politics. A Pakistan People's Party (PPP) member of the National Assembly or lower house of Parliament from Sindh claimed that just like it was "unimaginable" for the Congress in India to go into elections without a Gandhi leading its campaign, it was unthinkable for PPP leaders to disassociate themselves from the Bhuttos.

According to sources, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari is intent on launching his son Bilawal Bhutto's formal political career before the general election early next year. However, Bilawal will not achieve the minimum age of 25 for contesting polls till September 2013.

Zardari plans to launch the political career of Bilawal, the nominal head of the ruling PPP, by May next year when the general election would be held, the Dawn newspaper reported recently.

However, Bilawal will be eligible to contest an election only when he turns 25 in September next year.

The move has been influenced by the way in which the PPP's fortunes are closely linked to the family of the party's founder, late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. "Whether somebody likes it or not, Bilawal (and his sisters) Asifa and Bakhtawar are the face of the party. The PPP is synonymous with the Bhuttos and after the untimely death of their mother (former premier Benazir Bhutto), they have to don this mantle for the party's cause," the lawmaker was quoted as saying.

"It's an association that not even President Zardari can challenge. A Bhutto addressing an election rally always creates an extra amount of energy among voters, which the party cannot afford to lose with elections round the corner," he said.

Similarly in India, Congress cannot survive without Gandhis taking charge from the forefront. After the death of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi took over the reins of Congress. After Indira's Gandhi's assassination, it was Rajiv Gandhi. Similarly, with the death of Rajiv Gandhi, his wife Sonia Gandhi and son Rahul Gandhi are at the helm of Congress affairs.

OneIndia News