How family members of former CMs are reaping rich political harvest in Karnataka!

Nepotism and dynastic politics can be seen in every party and every part of the country. Starting from the Gandhis at the national level to Gowdas in Karnataka, most of the top politicians have promoted nepotism in politics to an extent, and people are not complaining about it any more.

Even the BJP, "the party with a difference", is not an exception though one can safely say that it is least affected by this evil political culture. As Karnataka is getting ready for the Assembly elections, let's take a look at the politics going on in the families of former Karnataka Chief Ministers.

Deve Gowda

The first name that easily comes to a Kannadigas' mind when talking about family politics in Karnataka is none other than JDS. Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda's younger son H.D. Kumaraswamy is a two-time Karnataka CM. His other son H.D. Revanna is a five-time MLA from Holenarasipur constituency.

Kumaraswamy's wife Anitha is currently an MLA from the Ramanagara segment and his son Nikhil Gowda had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha poll from the Mandya constituency but lost to Sumalatha Ambareesh. He is now the Youth Wing president of the party.

Revanna's son Prajwal was elected from the Hassan Assembly constituency while his wife Bhavani is keen to contest from the Hassan constituency in the upcoming Assembly poll.

Yediyurappa

Though he leaves no chance to criticise Congress and JDS over family politics, Lingayat strongman and former Karnataka CM B.S. Yediyurappa has brought in his two sons - B.Y. Raghavendra and B.Y. Vijayendra - into politics.

Raghavendra is a two-time MP and one-time MLA while Vijayendra, a lawyer by profession, is the vice-president of Karnataka BJP, and is trying to secure his father's position in the party and willing to contest from Shikaripura from where Yediyurappa has won several times. Notably, he gained his followers' faith after helping his party win the KR Pete constituency in the last by-polls.

Bangrappa

S. Bangarappa's family is quite different from Gowda and Yediyurappa families as the senior Bangarappa had political differences with his elder son Kumar Bangarappa. His younger son Madhu Bangarappa followed his father wherever he went and whichever party he chose to contest from.

Surprisingly, Kumar, who took on his father and elder brother Madhu, shifted his loyalty as he joined the BJP and won the last poll.

Dharam Singh

Former CM N. Dharam Singh's family has retained relevance in Karnataka politics as his two sons - Ajay and Vijay - are active in politics in North Karnataka. While Ajay is an MLA from Jevaragi segment, Vijay forayed into politics through MLC polls.

Gundu Rao

Former Chief Minister R. Gundu Rao's son Dinesh is an active Congress leader who is elected four times from the Gandhinagar constituency. He was also the president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee for some time.

Siddaramaiah

Last but not least, former CM Siddaramaiah S. Gowda's son Yathindra also forayed into active politics and was elected from the Varuna Assembly constituency. Siddaramaiah is a front-runner in the race for the CM's post this time too.