Although a parliamentary democracy, Indian politics has increasingly become dynastic, possibly due to the absence of a party organization, independent civil society associations that mobilize support for the party, and centralized financing of elections.[1] Family members have also led the Congress party for most of the period since 1978 when Indira Gandhi floated the then Congress(I) faction of the party.[2] It also is fairly common in many political parties in Maharashtra.[3] The dynastic phenomenon is seen from national level down to district level and even village level.The three-tier structure of Panchayati Raj established in the 1960s also helped to create and consolidate the dynastic phenomenon in rural areas. Apart from government, political families also control cooperative institutions, mainly cooperative sugar factories, district cooperative banks in the state, and since the 1980s private for profit colleges.[4][5] The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party also features several senior leaders who are dynasts.[6][7] In Maharashtra, the NCP has particularly high level of dynasticism.[7]
Below is a partial list of the political families of Maharashtra state in India.
Vilasrao Deshmukh (1945 – August 2012) - MP in the Rajya Sabha, Indian Minister of Science & Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences, former Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, former Minister of Rural Development and Minister of Panchayati Raj, Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra for 2 Terms -
Amit Deshmukh, son of Vilasrao Deshmukh - Cabinet Minister & Guardian Minister of Latur.
Yashwantrao Gadakh Patil - is a veteran leader of Nationalist Congress Party from Maharashtra. He served as Member of Parliament for 3 terms, also served as Member of legislative council.
B.J.Khatal-Patil, Former Minister of State for Co-operation, Planning etc and Minister of Cabinet for Law & Judiciary, Food & Civil Supplies, Irrigation, PWD, Revenue etc and Congress Member for Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
Vikramsinh Satish Khatal Patil, grandson of Mr B. J. Khatal-Patil is now socially and politically active from the family.
Vasantrao Naik, 4th Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Former Member of Parliament. The longest served Chief Minister of State.
Avinash Naik, son of Vasantrao Naik, Former Minister of state.
Sudhakarrao Naik, Nephew of Vasantarao Naik, Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Former Member of Parliament. Founder member of Nationalist Congress Party
Nilay Naik, Nephew of Sudhakarrao Naik, Member of Legislative Council, Former President of Zilha Parishad Yavatmal.
Rohit Rajendra Pawar - Son of Rajendra and Sunanda, Grandnephew of Sharad Pawar, Nephew of Supriya Sule and Ajit Pawar Member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Karjat Jamkhed Constituency
Pratap Govindrao Pawar - Younger brother of Sharad Pawar, runs Sakal group of newspapers, Awarded Padma Shri.
Rajarambapu Patil - Former Member of legislative assembly Maharashtra.In the 1960s and 70s, he was influential in establishing many cooperative instituitions such as a bank and a Sugar factory in sangli district.[11]
Jayant Patil - Cabinet Minister of Maharashtra State, Son of Rajarambapu Patil
The Purohit Family
Raj K. Purohit - BJP Chief Whip of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (Cabinet Minister)
Sushilkumar Shinde, Former Central Home Minister of India, Former Ministry of Power, Former Governor of AndhraPradesh, Former Chief Minister of Mahrashtra.
Praniti Shinde, Member of Legislative Assembly from Solapur City Central, Mahrashtra, AICC Media Panelist. Daughter of Sushilkumar
Eknath Shinde, 19th and current Chief minister of Maharashtra, Member of Legislative Assembly from Kopri-Pachpakhadi, Maharashtra, Leader of Shiv Sena Party, former Cabinet Minister of PWD in Maharashtra State Government (2014-2019), Appointed as Guardian minister of Thane District (2014-2019)
Shrikant Shinde, Member of Parliament 16th Lok Sabha from kalyan constituency, Maharashtra, Son of Eknath Shinde
Bal Thackeray (also known as Balasaheb) (1926 – 2012) - founder leader and former chairperson of the Shiv Sena
Uddhav Thackeray, Former Chief Minister Of Maharashtra; leader and chairperson of the Shiv Sena (UBT); son of Balasaheb Thackeray
Aditya Thackeray, ex Minister (Environment and climate, Tourism, Protocol), Government of Maharashtra; founder and president of Yuva Sena; son of Uddhav Thackeray
Shrikant Thackeray, younger brother of Bal Thackeray
Bhausaheb thorat, Bhausaheb Thorat was a peasant leader and worked as a freedom fighter in the freedom struggle in Maharashtra and a one-time legislator from Sangamner constituency.
^Palshikar, S., 2004. Issues in an Issue-less Election: Assembly Polls in Maharashtra. Economic and Political weekly, pp.4399-4403.
^Mathew, A. PRIVATE ENGAGEMENT IN MAHARASHTRA HIGHER EDUCATION: FROM PHILANTHROPY TO COMMERCIALIZATION AND RESISTING REGULATION.College Post, April-Jun, 2018, 11-18