Dynastic Politics in India: What Today’s Voters Really Think

Politics in India is no short of a well-established 78 season web-series still on air since 1947. And who all are the star-studded cast of this ordeal? The dynastic families starting right from the Nehru-Gandhis under the national spotlight and the regional powerhouses like the Yadavs in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Thackerays in Maharashtra, and Abdullahs in Kashmir, family legacies have long dominated who gets to lead.

But if we want to delve deeper into the functioning of such a political phenomenon and how voters of today may perceive the landscape of administrative power: we need to break down what dynastic politics in simpler terms is. 

Dynastic politics is when the same family stays in power for many years, with parents, children, or relatives all becoming leaders one after another. This happens in many countries even beyond India, where some political families have been in politics for generations. Some voters believe that it's good because the family possesses necessary ideals and inherited qualifications, but others may feel it's unfair since it makes it harder for a fresher vision to gain momentum in a country that is constantly evolving. In a true democracy, everyone should have an equal shot, not just those born into political families.

But does the community of young voters of India think that we are thriving under such legacy monopoly or there’s a need for fresh faces that are ready to offer them a vision?

Why Dynasties Are Still Around?

• Name recognition: A familiar surname instantly builds trust with voters.
• Access to party tickets: It’s easier to contest elections if you’re already in the family.
• Strong local networks: Political dynasties have loyal workers, supporters, and financial backers.
• Established “vote banks”: In many cases, entire communities vote based on a family’s legacy.

When we look at numbers it is blindingly bright how in 2019, 30% of Lok Sabha MPs had ties to families who have been reigning within the political sphere of India. And yes, it includes every single major party, from Congress to the Samajwadi Party, the DMK, and even the BJP.

Familiar Faces = Trusted Choices?

In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, 226 incumbent MPs were re-elected, making up only 41% of the newly elected members—meaning that 59% were newcomers. This reveals a surprisingly high turnover in Indian politics, unlike most democracies where incumbency provides an advantage. From the 17th Lok Sabha (2014–19), approximately 230 MPs were re-elected, while 267 were first-time legislators, reinforcing that continuity and experience remain highly valued in the electoral mindset, even as fresh entrants gain ground.

This is fool-proof evidence to how an Indian voter is more likely to put their trust in someone they already know. If someone’s father or grandfather had served the area, it was assumed they understood governance and would deliver. In rural areas, the village sarpanch’s son becoming the MLA wasn’t seen as privilege, it was seen as continuity.

It’s an unsaid truth that the theory behind distribution of government jobs solely takes place through connections that are personal or political with no in-between. It is the most generic formula for getting things done. They could pick up the phone, call the collector, and fix your electricity or ration card issue. That kind of access mattered to voters.

But the Voter is Changing

The voter community in circa 2024 is as dynamic as it gets.

While today’s youth certainly seem more informed and vocal, asking tough questions like “What has this candidate achieved independently?” and “Does their surname precede national progress?” that awareness hasn't fully translated into action. According to the Election Commission of India, out of the approximately 49 million 18–19‑year‑olds, only 38% had registered to vote before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with states like Bihar, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh showing even lower rates. Moreover, first-time voters overall comprised just about 1.9% of total electors (around 1.85 crore out of nearly 97 crore registered voters) This gap between political consciousness and electoral participation highlights a crucial insight: while youth are increasingly questioning and challenging the status quo, their presence at the ballot box remains inconsistent. 

Social media trials are more often than not means of understanding the blurred lines between grey, black and white. Education enables the rise of issue-based politics that have made voters more critical and independent. While many still vote for dynastic politicians, there’s less blind faith when the validity of every single promise made can be cross-checked with a simple google search.

If a legacy candidate can prove themselves, show real leadership, clean governance, or new ideas- they may still get support. But the expectation is now much higher and beyond legacy heritage.

Cracks in the Wall

There are signs that the dynastic model might be breaking down. Voters are becoming increasingly transactional in metros and tier-2 cities; they wish to vote for development, infrastructure, and promises, rather than anything that is genealogical.

Some political families are even losing for a change. In 2019 Rahul Gandhi had lost his seat at Amethi to BJP’s Smriti Irani and in 2024 Gandhi’s sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contested her first-ever election in 2024 from Wayanad, a seat vacated by Rahul after he retained Rae Bareli, and secured a win but this came after decades of being in politics without contesting. Akhilesh Yadav too has witnessed a mixed record of dynastic wins. Hence these two cases are the perfect examples of opposite modes of successes and failures in the elections. Meanwhile, power was wrested by non-dynastic faces like Narendra Modi, Yogi Adityanath, and Arvind Kejriwal more on merit , vision and public projection. 

What the Future Looks Like

While there is increasingly much discussion of new political leadership, the arrival of fresh faces in Indian politics is still small. During the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, just around 26% of MPs were first-timers and the remaining were re-elected or from traditional political families. Even at the MLA level, the issuance of party tickets is highly biased in favor of sitting members with little room for fresh faces or independent new entrants. 

In spite of this, there are indicators of churn. Some parties have been forced to run new candidates for reasons of anti-incumbency, retirements, or seat realignments. However, the absence of access to institutions, mentorship, and funding continues to create barriers for youth and grassroots leaders entering the fray.

One historically entrenched issue is the "Pati Panchayat" phenomenon, where elected women, particularly at the panchayat or municipal level are frequently replaced in practice by their husbands or close relatives. This works against gender empowerment as well as political rejuvenation.

But the 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies, when it comes into effect with its rotating model, may prove to be a structural gamechanger. Since the reserved seats rotate over each election cycle, it will problematize the hardening of proxy politics and possibly create genuine political space for women leaders with autonomous agency.

Hopefully the future leaders will have to work for their position, not inherit it. That goes for even the political legacies, especially in this world of internet and social media where information is circulated faster than taking a big breath. However, the age of dynastic politics is not yet over, but its hold is weakening that’s for sure. And every voter must remember democracy is your vote counted for your rights, not for someone's last name.

The ballot is not a family heirloom. It's a weapon of change.

Written by Ahana Ghosh