One-third of the candidates nominated by prominent parties in Maharashtra have political backgrounds within their families.

Women candidates are more dynastic, with 82% of them having a political legacy

In recent years, there's been a pushback against dynastic politics, especially highlighted by leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, despite this narrative, political parties in Maharashtra have nominated a significant number of dynastic candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, comprising about 34% of the total candidates from major parties in the state.

The BJP, contesting the most seats, has the highest number of dynastic candidates at 13. Notably, a large portion of women candidates, accounting for 82%, come from political families.

The NCP, led by Ajit Pawar, leads in dynastic representation with 50% of its candidates being dynasts, followed closely by the BJP at 43%, and Shiv Sena at 40%.

Opposition parties like NCP, Congress, and Shiv Sena also have substantial dynastic representation, ranging from 19% to 30% of their candidates.

This phenomenon isn't unique to India; political dynasties are prevalent globally, with arguments both for and against them. Proponents argue they bring efficiency and cohesion, while opponents claim they lead to power concentration and corruption, though empirical evidence on this is inconclusive.

Political parties often choose dynastic candidates to increase their chances of winning seats, as dynastic backgrounds are often seen as assets rather than liabilities. Additionally, political legacies influence the selection of female candidates, with a majority of women candidates coming from political families.

Overall, the presence of dynastic politics remains a significant aspect of electoral dynamics in Maharashtra and beyond.