Political Families Take Center Stage in Panchayat Elections

Kuldeep Singh Chundawat October 24, 2026, 9:59 am 3 min read

Jaipur, October 24: In the ongoing Panchayat elections, both the Congress and BJP have nominated several candidates from prominent political families. This strategic move aims to secure a majority in the district councils and Panchayat committees. Many leaders have leveraged their family connections to boost their political stature by securing tickets for multiple family members.

The most intriguing contest is in Ward 39 of the Churu District Council. Here, Parakram Singh Rathore, son of senior BJP leader and former opposition leader Rajendra Rathore, faces off against Keshrichand Sharma, son of the late former MLA Bhanwarlal Sharma and brother of Sardarshahr MLA Anil Sharma. Additionally, Rathore’s daughter-in-law, Kanika Singh, is contesting as the BJP candidate from Ward 23 in Churu.

Congress has also fielded Kanak Devi, wife of Taranagar MLA Narendra Budania, as a candidate for Ward 38 in Churu. Notably, Budania defeated Rajendra Rathore in the 2023 assembly elections.

Both parties have put forth a total of 12 candidates related to influential leaders. In Tonk, former Agriculture Minister Prabhulal Saini’s son, Manish Saini, has filed his nomination for Ward 20. In Chittorgarh, the BJP has nominated Sushila Kanwar, wife of independent MLA Chandrabhan Singh Aakya, for Ward 16. In Bharatpur, the party has fielded Pooja Duvash, daughter of former MLA Gutiyaari Lal Duvash, for Ward 22, and Kanika Singh, daughter of former MLA Bachhu Singh Bansiwal, for Ward 18.

On the Congress side, Alka Bairwa, daughter of former Deputy Chief Minister Banwari Lal Bairwa, and Sushma Bairwa, wife of former MLA Prashant Bairwa, have filed nominations in Tonk. The position of district chief in Tonk is reserved for a woman from the Scheduled Caste community. In Bikaner, Nikita Dudi, daughter-in-law of the late former opposition leader Rameshwar Dudi and MLA Sushila Dudi, is also in the race. Former Union Minister Mahadev Singh Khandela’s wife, Parvati Devi Khandela, is contesting from the Panchayat committee.

The question arises: why are political families being prioritized in these elections? Parties are strategically granting tickets to well-established political families known for their local influence. These families often come with a pre-existing political identity and a network of supporters, although this does not guarantee victory.

The debate over dynastic politics has intensified. While the nomination of family members allows their supporters to gain representation, it raises concerns about opportunities for new activists and other candidates.

Rajendra Rathore’s son and daughter-in-law enter the Panchayat election fray: Parakram in Ward 39 and Kanika in Ward 23 as BJP candidates.

Author Profile

Kuldeep Singh Chundawat: My name is Kuldeep Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.